Aquapeya, a packaged water brand that received a significant investment from Shark Tank India judges Namita Thapar and Ritesh Agarwal, has been ordered by the Bombay High Court to cease operations due to a trademark and copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Bisleri International. The court has issued an interim order restraining Aquapeya from manufacturing, packaging, distributing, marketing, or selling its bottled water.
The dispute arose after an episode of Shark Tank India aired in January, during which Aquapeya’s founders admitted to drawing inspiration from established brands, including Bisleri. The application filed by Bisleri with the Bombay High Court alleged that Aquapeya infringed on Bisleri’s registered trademark and copyright by using “pirated artworks” and benefiting from the goodwill of bigger players in the market. Bisleri claimed that Aquapeya’s trademark and artistic work are deceptively similar to its own.
On the show, the judges questioned Aquapeya’s promoters about why they copied well-known brands, to which they replied that they used the same green color as Bisleri because consumers recognize it. Aquapeya’s founders, Tushar and Ravi Mundada, stated that they launched the brand in 2018 after quitting their previous businesses and found that some territories prefer water brands with specific colors. Despite this, the Bombay High Court has restricted AquaPea from carrying out any business activities.
Prior to this development, Aquapeya had secured a deal valued at Rs 23.33 crore, with Thapar and Agarwal investing for a 3% equity stake and 1% royalty. Aquapeya’s founders had gained attention for their innovative approach to packaging and marketing, but it appears that their copying of other brands’ designs may have raised ethical concerns. The court’s decision highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and the consequences of infringing on others’ trademarks and copyrights.