Pune: A move made by drug company Cutis Biotech to stop the Serum Institute of India from using the trademark "Covishield" was rejected by a civil court in Pune on Saturday.

A civil court in Pune on Saturday rejected an injunction application filed on behalf of pharmaceutical company Cutis Biotech against the Serum Institute of India, seeking the latter to restrain from using the trademark 'Covishield' for its Covid-19 vaccine.

Earlier this month, Cutis Biotech filed a suit in the civil court looking for restraining Serum Institute from using the trademark "Covishield" or other similar names for its coronavirus vaccine. Following this, the Serum also filed its response in the court, stating both the firms operate in different product categories and there is no scope for confusion over the trademark.

Senior advocate SK Jain appeared for SII along with Hitesh Jain and Pooja Tidke of Parinam law Associates.

Commenting on the development, Hitesh Jain, Managing Partner, Parinam law Associates, said, "Judge AV Rote has rejected the application which had sought a perpetual injunction against Serum Institute of India for purposes of restraining it from using the trademark 'Covishield' or any other mark which is confusingly similar to the trademark Covishield in respect of the goods which are same/similar/dissimilar with the goods of the plaintiff."

While rejecting the application, the court also observed that Cutis Biotech (the plaintiff) has not approached the court with clean hands and had suppressed material facts.

(With inputs from IANS)