The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has won a trademark case against Chennai-based textile firm, Vedhapuri Textiles.
In 2001, the firm had applied for registration of a trademark logo depicting two uplifted hands with diya in the centre and words “Double Hands” for its ‘lungies’. The trademark was advertised in the Trademark Journal in 2012. The LIC did not oppose the mark and the textile firm’s logo was registered in 2013.
Later, LIC, which is using the trademark logo since 1956, moved the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) for rectification.
It said the trademark logo of the textile firm would amount to infringement of its legal rights as there is a deceptive similarity and an infringement of the registered proprietors statutory and common law rights.
The IPAB said the proprietor of the textile firm must be aware about the trademark and the logo of LIC and there is no reason to adopt an identical logo for ‘lungies’.
It also said the textile firm registered the logo without sufficient cause and the same is accordingly cancelled/removed.
The IPAB ruled that the textile firm has played a fraud and fined it ₹50,000 to be deposited with the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund within two months.
