The Delhi High Court dismissed contempt proceedings against Google India and Google LLC on June 15, 2026, in the ongoing trademark dispute with DRS Logistics. The court ruled that Google’s obligations under previous keyword advertising rulings were narrower than claimed by DRS Logistics, which had alleged that Google allowed competitor ads using its trademarks in search results, violating earlier orders.
DRS Logistics, owner of trademarks such as "Agarwal Packers and Movers" and "DRS Logistics," accused Google of willfully disobeying court directions by displaying competitor advertisements and sponsored links when users searched for its protected marks. The company sought contempt action, arguing that Google failed to prevent third-party advertisers from using its trademarks in ad text and titles. However, Justice Tejas Karia clarified that the 2021 and 2023 rulings only addressed the use of trademarks as keywords, not their appearance in ad content.
This ruling limits the scope of Google’s responsibility in trademark disputes related to keyword advertising, distinguishing between keyword use and ad text or titles. The court’s interpretation narrows the obligations imposed on search engines, impacting how trademark owners can enforce their rights against competitor ads. The decision aligns with previous judgments that focused on keyword complaints rather than broader trademark use in advertisements.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Tejas Karia, is part of a long-running legal battle between DRS Logistics and Google. The court’s decision clarifies that Google must investigate complaints about trademark use as keywords but is not required to monitor the content of ads themselves. The full judgment is available on medianama.com.