Bombay HC Stops Abbott Ads for Disparaging Horlicks Diabetes Plus, Gives HUL Temporary Relief

The Bombay High Court has ordered Abbott Laboratories to stop sharing ads that allegedly criticize Hindustan Unilever’s (HUL) Horlicks Diabetes Plus until further notice. This decision provides temporary relief to HUL, India’s largest consumer company.

The court found that HUL has a strong case and deserves protection until the full case is heard. HUL claims that Abbott’s ads for Ensure Diabetes Care, shared via WhatsApp with doctors and pharmacies, show Horlicks Diabetes Plus in a negative light.

Justice RI Chagla said that not stopping these ads could cause serious damage to HUL that money can’t fix. The court will hear the case again on October 7.

HUL’s lawyers argued that the Horlicks product is clearly visible in Abbott’s ad, even though it’s slightly blurred. They say Abbott could have used a plain, unbranded product but chose to show Horlicks Diabetes Plus to mislead viewers into thinking Abbott’s product is better.

The court noted that while companies can promote their products as the best, they cannot say their competitors’ products are bad, as that would damage their reputation, which is not allowed.