Government objects use of Khadi trademark by German company
Khadi - the handspun and hand-woven cloth is amidst a trademark battle. A German company, Khadi Naturprodukte is making efforts to use the khadi trademark for selling a range of Indian-origin products, including shampoos, soaps and oils in European markets. The company has already been granted a trademark by the Office for Harmonization in Internal Markets, an organisation responsible for trademark and design registration in EU.
The Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC), an arm of the ministry of micro, small & medium enterprises, has sought cancellation of the trademark registered in EU. The DIPP has advised the KVIC to register the khadi brand for its range of products in the US and the EU through an international trademark application under the World Intellectual Property Organization's Madrid Protocol.
The German company mentions on its website that "Khadi is a unique brand for the European market and only exclusively available with us." If the class of products for which the trademark has been granted to the German company includes textiles, then there are greater chances for India dominating the case.
Several trademarks have been registered in India including brands and labels such as ‘Khadi’, ‘Khadi Gramudyog’ and ‘Khadi Bharat’. A GI tag for khadi products on behalf of all Indian khadi producers had been sought by the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Attorneys Association.
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