Packaged water brand Aquapeya has been ordered by the Bombay High Court to stop manufacturing and selling its products after being accused by Bisleri International of infringing its registered trademark and copyright. Bisleri, which leads the packaged water category in India, filed a suit against Natvits Beverages, the company that makes Aquapeya, claiming that Aquapeya used pirated artworks and benefited from the goodwill of bigger players in the market. The issue came to light after an episode of the reality TV show Shark Tank, in which Aquapeya’s founders, Tushar and Ravi Mundada, defended their business model, stating that they used the same green color as Bisleri because consumers identify with it.
Aquapeya had previously raised Rs 70 lakh from Shark Tank judges Namita Thapar and Ritesh Agarwal, valuing the company at Rs 23.33 crore. However, the Bombay High Court has now directed Aquapeya to stop all activities related to its packaged drinking water brand.
This development raises questions about the show’s judges and their role in allowing such a contestant on the platform. A lawyer noted that the episode also raises questions about the show’s endorsement of a business model based on IP infringement. The court order is interim, and the matter is now pending further hearing.