Directions issued by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Friday noted that the group had finally got the copyright to use the red-coloured cross-symbol — Dr’s Emblem.
Advice to members
It has now advised all its members to “start using this emblem extensively, including on car stickers, visiting cards, conference backdrops, etc. This can be used only by allopathic doctors. It will also help differentiates modern medicine doctors from Ph.Ds and other doctors,” said IMA national president K. K. Aggarwal.
The association had obtained a no-objection certification from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to trademark a red cross with the letters ‘Dr’ in the centre on a white background.
NOC certificate
The NOC certificate from the IPO states, “no trademark identical with or deceptively similar to the said artistic work has been registered or applied for registration under the Trademarks Act, 1999, as per computer record of this office.”
While the association claims it wanted something simple and easily identifiable with medicine — the choice of emblem resembles the emblem of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which has been recognised since the 1864 Geneva Convention as a distinctive sign for medical relief teams on battlefields. Dr. Aggarwal said the IMA’s emblem used a lighter shade of red for the cross and also had the abbreviation ‘Dr’ in the centre, which will help differentiate the logo.
