Social media users have raised concerns about the presence of fake Domino's Pizza outlets on the popular food delivery platform Swiggy.
The issue was brought to light by a user named Ravi Handa, who shared a screenshot displaying multiple misspelt versions of Domino's pizza outlets near his location in Kolkata. Notably, one restaurant was named "Domino Pizza," while another was listed as "Domino'ss Pizza."
Expressing his dissatisfaction on the microblogging platform X, Handa wrote, "Hey @Swiggy This is clearly a fraud. Only one of these is genuine. Why are you letting this happen? Why isn't @dominos objecting to blatant violation of trademark?" In a follow-up post, he emphasised the seriousness of the matter, stating that someone close to him had fallen victim to the deceptive listings, realising the ruse only upon receiving the delivery.
Swiggy promptly responded to Handa's complaint, stating, "@ravihanda Hey Ravi, we'd like to have this looked into, please share your pincode over DM for us to have this checked."
The issue has sparked discussions on social media, with users sharing their experiences and opinions on the matter. One user pointed out the prevalence of similar practices, mentioning, "Cuz Abibas adibas also has the right to use e-commerce to sell their products." Another user highlighted the potential for confusion, citing examples like "KFC = Kentucky Fried Chicken. KFC = Kishan Food Corner."
Addressing the broader concern, a user expressed scepticism about trademark protection in India, stating, "There is nothing like Trade Mark in India."
Some users criticised Swiggy's role in the matter, suggesting that the platform may encourage such practices. One user claimed, "Letting this happen? Swiggy encourages this. Smaller restaurants give more commissions, and all we know Swiggy itself operates all this via shell companies."
Another user shared a similar experience with different establishments, revealing, "Not only Domino's. There are a lot of fake Restaurants & Sweet shop duplicates!! Especially renowned and old established places. I fell for it once & complained. Swiggy was kind enough to issue a full refund."