The Characters for this Chapter:
Mr.White:Lawyer for Mr.Green, the Plaintiff
Mr.Black:Lawyer for Mr.Red,the Defendant
Mr.Green: The Plaintiff
Mr.Red: The Defendant
M.Grey Black: The Hon'ble District Judge
Mr.Grey:The Hon'ble High Court Judge
Mr.Grey White:The Hon'ble Supreme Court Judge
Mr.G:The Senior Lawyer, who charges heavily [Also Known as The Giant Lawyer]
Mr.GS: The Lawyer, once batch-mate of Mr. Grey [Also Known as The Giant Slayer]
Mr.Orange:The Legal News Reporter
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"In dreams, justice glows in the sky so wide,
But in real, it twists, no straight path to guide.
Like snakes and ladders, truths slip and slide,
And no one may judge how judge may decide."
In the land of courts, chai, and endless paperwork, I found myself sitting on a wooden bench, watching a drama unfold — not about murder or millions, but about a Brand of rice. Yes. Rice.But not your regular home rice —this was luxury rice.The kind of rice that comes in golden bags, with stylish English writing and a proud elephant logo, making you feel like royal even before cooking it.
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Background — How the Battle Began
Mr. White, a smart and idealistic lawyer with polished shoes and an even shinier forehead, was fighting for his client , Mr. Green, the proud maker of "Real Grain" rice.They had launched first — golden packet, beautiful cursive writing, and an elephant that looked like it belonged in a king’s courtyard.
But along came Mr. Black, the bold lawyer with a loud voice and an even louder tie, defending his client, Mr. Red, a new seller of "Regal Grain" rice.Similar golden packet. Similar elephant device. Different name — but suspiciously close!
Mr. White rushed to court, asking for an injunction — which means stop selling that confusing Regal Grain — claiming:"We are the prior user!""We used the elephant device first!""People will get confused!"
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First Round: District Court — Hon'ble Judge Grey Black
In District Court, Mr. White stood up first:"Your Honor, my client Mr. Green is the original seller of Real Rice Brand .We created this royal look first — name, design, elephant!Now, Mr. Red, by using Regal Grain Brand is copying us!
Mr. Black countered, louder:"Your Honor, nobody owns elephants!And educated buyers can tell Real from Regal.Rich People confuse love , money and Tax , not rice bags!"
Hon'ble Judge Grey Black examined both packets seriously.He sniffed both packets (maybe hoping rice would tell him the truth — it didn't). Looked at provisions of Trademark Act 1999. Then, calmly declared:"Names confusingly similar. Looks similar. Product identical. Danger of confusion is real.I grant an injunction. Mr. Black, tell your client Mr. Red to stop selling Regal Rice Brand!"
Mr. White smiled like a cricketer after hitting a six.Mr. Black’s tie lost half its color. Outside court, Mr. White’s client, Mr.Green jumped with excitement but still looked worried.
Mr. Green: "Sir, sir! We won! Right? So now Regal Grain vanishes?"
Mr. White: "Well... temporarily. May be till the next fight."
Mr. Green: (confused) "Next fight? I thought court is like final boss level?"
Mr. White: (laughing) "No, sir. This may be First Round. Now they may appeal in High Court. Think of it like PUBG — more levels, more enemies, less battery."
Mr. Green: started googling "How long does court case last in India" and immediately fainted after hearing the answer " 7-10 years approximately on an average."
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Second Round: Appeal to High Court — Hon'ble Judge Grey: Next stop: High Court.
Coincidentally, the High Court Hon'ble Judge was also named Grey.
This time, Mr. Black argued with fireworks:"Your Honor, this rice is not for the common public! It costs more than a movie date with popcorn and cola!Only rich, educated people buy this.And educated people don’t mix up Regal and Real.They mix up taxes, not rice!"
Mr. White fought back:"Even rich people can make mistakes!Especially when all packets have golden shine and sleepy elephants!
Hon'ble Judge Grey sipped his ginger tea and said thoughtfully: "Hmm... educated buyers are careful buyers.No real confusion. Injunction is lifted. Let Regal Rice Brand live!"
Mr. Black's face lit up like Diwali.Outside High Court, Mr. Green ,the owner of Real Rice Brand, was vibrating with stress. He asked his lawyer Mr. White.
Mr. Green:: "Sir... what happened?! Judge sir removed the stay?
Mr. White: "Judge sir felt rich people don't get confused. Only poor heartbroken souls do."
Mr. Green:: (tearing up) "But sir, what about elephant device? Our emotional elephant?"
Mr. White: (patting his back) "In law, elephants have no emotions. Only evidence matters."
Mr. Green:: (whispering sadly) "First lost my rice market, now lost my faith in elephant."
Meanwhile, Mr. Black’s client celebrated by ordering biryani — sadly, now with Regal Rice Brand.
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Third Round: Supreme Court — Hon'ble Judge Grey White.
But Mr. White wasn’t done.He took the battle to the Supreme Court.And there sat the Hon'ble Justice Grey White — half logic, half poetry, fully unpredictable.After long arguments, Justice Grey White asked:"Who actually buys this luxury rice? Rich owners? Or their house help?"
Everyone froze.
He answered himself: "It’s usually the house help — drivers, maids, cooks — carrying heavy golden packets.To them, Real and Regal can easily look the same."
Then with a small chuckle, he added:"When you're underpaid, overworked, and shopping in a hurry, all elephants look alike!"
Finally, Hon'ble Grey White announced:"Injunction restored! Protect Real Rice Brand."
Mr. White almost performed a secret victory dance. Mr. Black looked like his tie might never recover.
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Outside Supreme Court:
Mr. Green: "Sir! Victory?! Finally?"
Mr. White: (grinning) "Yes sir. Now the Hon'ble Supreme Court has seen the unseen, the truth."
Mr. Green:: (scratching head) "Sir, does that mean only my driver’s confusion saved my company?"
Mr. White: "Exactly. Never underestimate the power of confused domestic help."
Mr. Green: (with deep breadth) "So not my rice quality... not my branding... not my elephant's royal tail... Only Bhola driver’s confusion saved me?"
Mr. White just smiled and patted his back like a friendly undertaker.
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Forth Round: Review Petition:Round 4:
Mr. Black, The Comeback Counsel
Just when Mr. White thought he had cornered the market on temporary victories, Mr. Black returned—not defeated, but reinvigorated, like a lawyer who had just discovered a precedent in footnote 17 of an obscure Supreme Court ruling.
Mr. Black, undeterred by procedural pitfalls and poetic arguments, relentlessly pursued his client Mr. Red to file a review petition. His new angle? A classic procedural uppercut: “The ground on which the injunction was restored,” he thundered, “lies beyond the SCOPE of the original pleading!”
With surgical precision, Mr. Black argued before the court, “Your Honor, nowhere in Mr. White’s pleadings is it claimed that only household servants buy these products. Nor is there a single document supporting this elitist stereotype. In fact, even the rich, the elite, and the Wi-Fi-enabled class of society buy rice! Is Mr. White suggesting the wealthy have stopped eating carbohydrates?”
The courtroom chuckled, but the bench listened.And it worked.
The judgment was reviewed. The matter was remanded back to the High Court for a fresh round of adjudication—this time with a twist. Mr. White was granted the liberty to amend his pleadings and, if he wished, bring fresh ground into the matter.
Meanwhile, the injunction—once hanging like a sword over Mr. Black’s client—was suspended till next date.
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Mr. White’s Office
A White-Washed Room with Legal Books, a Cold Coffee, and a Slightly Warmer Client
Mr. Green: (sternly):“Mr. White, I read the order. We were doing so well. How did Mr. Black turn this around?”
Mr. White (adjusting his glasses, very White-ly):“It’s procedural improvisation. He played the ‘Scope Card’. Said we didn’t mention who buys the rice—servants, elites, or extraterrestrials. Frankly, I didn’t think we’d need to specify the socio-economic diversity of rice buyers.”
Mr. Green:“Well now the injunction is gone! And he’s back in business. I had suggested we file a separate suit for defamation or maybe leak a media story—‘Rice of the Rich: A Grainy Conspiracy’. But you said no.”
Mr. White (calmly):“Because we are a courtroom client, not a newsroom headline. We win with pleadings, not publicity. This is not a WhatsApp forward war.”
Client (sighs, frustrated):“You always quote the law, Mr. White. But sometimes, strategy matters too. Every thing is fair in love and war. Maybe I need someone who blends both. At least the one who wins cases. (A tense pause.)
Mr. White (firmly):“You're free to change counsel. But remember—this isn’t chess. This is litigation. Every flashy move comes with a footnote.”
Mr. Green: (murmuring to himself):“Maybe a new lawyer, maybe a new plan. But I’m not giving up on this rice.”
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Round 5: Big Lawyers, Small Progress
After the Hon'ble Supreme court sent the case back to the High Court, Mr. White’s client Mr. Green decided to change his lawyer.
Mr. Green hired Mr. G, a very famous and expensive senior lawyer. People called him "The Giant Lawyer". His fees were big, and his voice was even bigger.
Mr. Black did not stay behind. He brought in Mr. GS, a lawyer, known as "The Giant Slayer". Mr. GS and Mr. Grey , the Hon'ble High Court Judge, had studied together in the same law college and were known friends.
First Call [In the pre launch session]:
When the case was called the first time, Mr. GS was busy in another courtroom.Mr. Black said, “Please wait, Mr. GS will come soon.”
Mr. G shouted, “This is delay! We are ready!”.
Mr. Grey smiled and said, “Alright, Sir, this happens to any lawyer. I will wait. Pass over.”
Second Call [In the Post launch session]:
Now Mr. GS was ready. But this time, Mr. G was missing! He had gone to another court for a film star’s bail case.
Mr. Grey shook his head. “Enough for today. Come back next week.”He also said: “The earlier order will continue till we hear the case.”
And the litigation continues:
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An Extra Twist — Wisdom from the Crowd
As I packed my files, a media person sitting behind me in court, Mr. Orange,munching peanuts, said thoughtfully:
"Today I understood something very big.You can judge a judgment.But you can never judge a Judge."
He smiled, dusted off his kurta, and left — leaving behind the ultimate truth.And I stood there, smiling.
Respectfully Ridiculous And submitted with humor and humility
By The Lawfing Lawyer,Advocate Ajay Amitabh Suman
Patent and Trademark Attorney,Delhi High Court
Lawfing Tales of Law, Lawyers and Litigation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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