Delhi High Court Declares SOCIAL Pub a Well-Known Trademark
The Delhi High Court has ruled in favour of the popular restaurant and café brand SOCIAL, declaring it a well-known trademark under the Trade Marks Act, 1999.
In a judgment delivered on January 9, 2026, Justice Tejas Karia held that the mark SOCIAL has gained strong distinctiveness and a secondary meaning due to its long and continuous use since 2014. The Court noted that the brand’s wide presence across India and its strong recall among customers in the hospitality sector played a key role in this decision.
The case was filed by Impresario Entertainment and Hospitality Pvt Ltd, which owns and operates the SOCIAL chain, against a dessert and beverage outlet named The Shake Social. Impresario alleged trademark infringement, passing off, and dilution of its brand, and also requested the Court to officially recognise SOCIAL as a well-known mark.
The Court observed that SOCIAL’s unique style of presentation, serving format, and overall experience are closely associated with Impresario alone. It also took note of the brand’s dedicated website, socialoffline, which showcases its restaurants and bars across India and is accessible worldwide.
Since The Shake Social did not appear before the Court or file a response, the matter proceeded ex parte. After examining the evidence, the Court held that Impresario had clearly established infringement and passing off.
Importantly, the Court highlighted the brand’s commercial success and marketing efforts. It recorded that SOCIAL has earned significant goodwill and reputation over the years, with promotional spending of nearly ₹30 crore in FY 2023–24, making the mark synonymous with Impresario.
Based on these factors, the Court concluded that SOCIAL satisfies the legal requirements of a well-known trademark under Section 2(1)(zg) of the Trade Marks Act. It also permanently restrained the defendant from using the word SOCIAL or any deceptively similar name for its business.
