Internet giant Yahoo! won a temporary court order on Tuesday blocking an Indian tea company from using the Yahoo! brand name to market its products. Yahoo! brought the case claiming that its trade mark is not restricted to computer and internet-related services, according to media reports.
The case involves the Bombay-based Sarda Trading Company, which markets its tea products under the name 'Yahoo'. Yahoo!, which operates an Indian portal, apparently alleged that Sarda and its business and packaging partners were attempting to pass their products off as being associated with the internet giant.

Yahoo! is reported to have further alleged that the use of its brand name by Sarda diluted the distinctiveness, uniqueness and exclusivity of its trade mark and logo.

Four years ago, the US company successfully sued an Indian entrepreneur who had registered yahooindia.com, as well as several other domain names containing the word 'Yahoo."

In that case, the Indian High Court ruled that the Yahoo! mark was well established and that the defendant could not escape liability by using disclaimers. Following the decision, the yahooindia.com domain was transferred to Yahoo!.

The latest case, however, is more ambiguous since it is not directly related to the internet activities of Yahoo!. In its lawsuit, the company is apparently claiming that its trade mark extends to products such as books, clothing and computer accessories.

Yahoo! reportedly claims that it will sign co-branding agreements with various firms, including ice cream maker Ben &Jerry's and the retailer 7-Eleven.

The awarded court order, which blocks the use of the Yahoo! mark by Sarda, is only temporary and will be valid until the full case is heard next month.

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