Campus vs Campus: Trademark Showdown Shakes Up India’s Fashion Arena

Image Source : Marketing Mind

India’s fashion and footwear sectors are witnessing a highstakes legal clash as Campus Activewear drags Campus Sutra to the Delhi High Court over trademark infringement. The dispute centers on the use of the word “Campus,” a shared brand element that’s now at the heart of a battle over identity, legacy, and digital disruption.

What Sparked the Lawsuit

Campus Activewear, a leading sportswear brand, claims Campus Sutra’s use of “Campus” risks confusing consumers and diluting its brand equity.
The footwear giant seeks a permanent injunction to prevent Sutra from using “Campus” in any standalone form across its product lines.

Campus Sutra’s Defense

Operating under the full name “Campus Sutra” since 2012, the fashion label argues that only three of its 11,000 designs inadvertently used “Campus” alone.
These listings were removed from online platforms, and the brand has assured the court it won’t use “Campus” independently until further notice.
Sutra emphasized it has never used the term for footwear, the category dominated by Activewear.

Court Proceedings and What’s Next

Justice Amit Bansal issued a formal notice to Campus Sutra and recorded its voluntary undertaking.
Both parties are represented by top legal teams, with the next hearing scheduled for November 10.
The case could set a precedent for brand protection in India’s fastevolving ecommerce landscape, especially as legacy players clash with digitalnative disruptors.

Sources: Times of India, Bar & Bench, Financial Express, LiveLaw, Womanias, Storyboard18