Bangalore: V3 ENGINEERS PVT LTD, one of India’s largest Modular Furniture Manufacturers has won a case against Wipro CGLG. Wipro CGLG had filed a case last month against V3, on alleged infringement of their designs.

Commenting on this, R Guru Prasad, Director – Finance and Administration at V3, said, “The product design highlighted by Wipro is completely different from the design adopted by V3. V3 has been manufacturing several such products since 2005, that is three years prior to the date of registration of design by Wipro. We’ve never resorted to copying any company’s design.

“We have been using the `contentious’ designs for the 15 years and we’ve indigenously designed and manufactured over 300 products.”

“WIPRO was in fact a customer to V3 till the year 2005 and over 10000 work stations have been installed in their units across divisions.”

“It was surprising when Wipro filed a case against us. Though we are aware that IP is not that strong in India, we will never indulge in infringement activities. We are an ethical company and abide to the laws of the country.”

“We are active members of AFMI, a forum to which major furniture manufacturers are members to. They could have sought a redressal by this forum.”

V3’s Senior Counsel Mr. Hari Holla said “The judge noticed by examining documents, designs and manufactured products by V3 that there are no visible similarities or similarities in materials used; the design, cross sections and construction shape of the legs and dismissed the suit with costs in favour of V3.”

The judge categorically quoted “In order that there may be ‘Novelty’, so as to sustain a patent, the thing must not have been known to anyone before, mere novelty of form being insufficient”.

“In order to attract infringement, there must be deceptive similarities. If the designs are not distinctly similar in the eye of the customer, there is no question of infringement”.

The courts held that there is no prima facie case against V3 ENGINEERS and vacated the temporary injunction granted earlier.