A Thiruvananthapuram principal commercial court has slapped a fine of ₹1 crore on private dairy firm Milnna for copying the name and packaging style of Milma, Kerala’s well-known state-run dairy brand. The court also directed the company to pay ₹8,18,410 as court fees and imposed a 6% interest on the fine amount.
Milnna has been permanently barred from selling milk or allied products using any name, logo or design resembling Milma’s. The judgement came after Milma, officially known as the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, approached the court accusing the private firm of brand imitation.
Milnna’s branding reportedly used a similar name and colour scheme, which the court felt could mislead customers into assuming the products were from Milma. The packaging style and trademark were also flagged as deliberate attempts to copy.
The court’s decision echoes Milma’s long-standing position that such imitations are not just unfair competition, but also a threat to consumer trust.
Milma's chair, KS Mani, noted that this isn’t the first time the brand has faced copycat issues. In 2022, the cooperative had taken legal steps against two other private dairies for similar practices. He also warned that any attempt to misrepresent the brand or deceive the public would be firmly dealt with.
Mani appealed to consumers to be more alert and stick to products sold directly through Milma's official network. He also reiterated that Milma will continue to monitor and act against any misuse of its identity.
Milma, formed in 1980 and based in Thiruvananthapuram, is a cooperative under Kerala’s Ministry of Cooperation. It collects milk from farmers across the state, processes it, and distributes various dairy products.