Indian air-conditioning company Voltas sued Haier, a Chinese home appliance and appliance company, over an advertising campaign that claimed Voltas defamed its brand.
The advertising campaign in question included TV commercials and print ads claiming that Haier air conditioners are superior to other brands, including Voltas. Voltas claimed the ad was false and misleading as it provided no scientific evidence to support their claims.
The Delhi High Court issued an mandate in favor of Voltas and ordered Haier to immediately stop airing the ad in question. The court ruled that the advertisement was likely to mislead consumers and cause irreparable damage to Voltas’ brand image and reputation. The court also found that Haier had not presented scientific evidence to support its claim that it was superior to other brands, including Voltas. It concluded that there was, and ordered Haier to immediately withdraw the advertisement pending the final hearing of the case.
In response to the mandate, Haier issued a statement expressing disappointment, saying it had always advocated fair and ethical advertising practices.Haier also complied with the court’s mandate to pursue the matter pending the final hearing of the case. said to be withdrawn.
Haier vs. Voltas emphasizes the importance of fair and accurate advertising practices in the highly competitive consumer electronics and appliance market. It also emphasizes the need for companies to back up their claims with scientific evidence and ensure that their advertising campaigns do not damage the reputation of other brands.