THE Delhi High Court has restrained several businesses from producing or selling imitations of designer Rahul Mishra’s celebrated Tigress design, ruling that even deceptively similar reproductions would amount to copyright infringement.
The order, delivered by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, emphasized that Mishra’s original creation is not only a piece of artistic expression but also represents the livelihood of artisans whose craftsmanship is tied to his brand. The court observed that plagiarism in fashion cannot be dismissed as harmless imitation—it causes financial harm, dilutes artistic value, and undermines the cultural significance of original work.
The dispute gained public attention when Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was spotted in a counterfeit version of Mishra’s Tigress shirt. The original piece, which retails at around Rs 3–4 lakh, has been widely copied and sold online for as little as Rs 18,000–20,000.
“This order will become a landmark reference whenever designers approach the courts over plagiarism,” Mishra’s legal team said. The HC noted that even partial imitation of distinctive design elements amounts to blatant copying.
More Than Just a Fashion Dispute
Mishra had also contended that the damage done by counterfeiting went beyond his individual loss. “It’s not only the dilution of my art work—it also affects artisans’ livelihoods,” he explained. The careful, handcrafted detail of his work, he pointed out, cannot be replaced by cheap, mass-produced copies that circumvent traditional methods.
The court concurred, emphasizing that intellectual property in the fashion business needs to be protected just as firmly as any other business.The order restrains businesses from creating, selling, or advertising any garment that bears “imitations or deceptively similar representations” of the Tigress motif.
A Call to Stylists and Celebrities
Mishra also urged stylists and celebrities to verify the authenticity of the garments they source. “Celebs and stylists should know where their clothes come from, and buy from rightful owners,” he remarked. His legal team underscored that patronizing counterfeits not only undermines original creators but also exploits the artisans who lose fair wages to cheap mass production.
A Win for Originality in Indian Fashion
By this decision, the Delhi HC has given a clear message: fashion plagiarism is not just a business quick way out but an infringement on intellectual property and artistry of culture.
The ruling should serve as a precedent for such conflicts in India’s fashion sector, upholding the principle that originality should be protected by law.
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