Mars and Cadbury End 25-Year Trademark Battle Over 'CELEBRATIONS' with Sweet Charitable Resolution

The Delhi High Court has documented a resolution between Mars Incorporated and Cadbury (India) Ltd regarding the use of the trademark 'CELEBRATIONS', concluding a trademark dispute that spanned almost 25 years between these confectionery giants.

Justice Sanjeev Narula, presiding over the single-judge Bench, noted while finalizing the decree that this decades-long legal battle had ultimately ended "not in discord, but in harmony."

"For nearly twenty-five years, two titans of the confectionery world – Mars and Cadbury – have stood before this Court, locked in contest over the trademark 'CELEBRATIONS'. Today, that long journey finds its conclusion. The curtains are drawn at last, not in discord, but in harmony," Justice Narula remarked.

According to the settlement terms, both corporations agreed to withdraw their respective opposition and rectification proceedings that were pending before the Indian Trade Marks Registry. The Delhi High Court acknowledged that the agreement, dated July 3, 2025, was "lawful and voluntarily executed."

The court also recognized a joint goodwill initiative proposed by the two companies, who expressed their desire "to mark this closure with a gesture befitting the very word they had so long contended over – Celebrations." In a voluntary commitment, Mars and Cadbury pledged to distribute confectionery products worth Rs 5 lakh each to schoolchildren throughout Delhi.

As outlined in the Delhi High Court order, this distribution will be overseen by the Directorate of Education and the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA). The court stated, "The distribution shall take place preferably before the main festival, under the supervision of the Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD), and the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA)".

Justice Narula praised the settlement, observing: "Even in fiercely competitive industries, corporate rivalry need not eclipse social responsibility. True celebration lies not in triumph over another, but in generosity towards others." The Delhi High Court commented that the true significance of the case was found not in its extensive legal documentation, but in "the conduct of the parties at its close."

"By choosing an amicable resolution, these two reputed companies, once adversaries, have together restored the plain sense of the trademark they long contested. 'CELEBRATIONS' now denotes joy that is shared and not divided," concluded the court.