Karnataka to explore legal options as Kerala wins trademark battle for KSRTC
Shivayogi C Kalasad, Managing Director, Karnataka RTC, said they were yet to receive a copy of the order, following which all legal options will be explored.
FollowThe Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation has decided to explore all legal options and challenge the recent order of the Central Registrar of Trademarks in favour of Kerala Road Transport Corporation to exclusively use the acronym ‘KSRTC’.
Shivayogi C Kalasad, Managing Director, Karnataka RTC, said they were yet to receive a copy of the order, following which all legal options will be explored.
“We will make all efforts to retain our right to use the acronym,” he said.
According to the Kerala government, the Central Trade Marks Registry announced its final verdict on Wednesday, giving it the right to use the acronym KSRTC, its emblem and even the term ‘Aana Vandi’, a nickname that means elephant vehicle.
However, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Laxman Savadi said they have not yet received any order copy regarding this issue.
“Without any notice from the Controller General of Patents Design and Trade Marks we can’t go ahead with Kerala’s claim. We will discuss with our KSRTC legal team and explore all possibilities.”
Savadi also said it was an unnecessary controversy. “The service of the people is important for the two corporations.
Sources in the Kerala Transport Department said a notice in this regard would be soon issued to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation.
Both Karnataka and Kerala SRTCs have been using the acronym KSRTC for many decades now. However, Karnataka RTC registered the acronym and its logo with the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks and issued a notice to Kerala RTC asking it not to use the acronym as they had patented it in 2014.
Kerala SRTC had soon approached the Registry and the judgement in the case, favourable to Kerala, was issued recently, sources said.
Savadi said unlike in private firms, the company name and logo did not affect the Corporations much, as both Karnataka and Kerala RTCs were “public service enterprises”.
“Karnataka and Kerala RTCs have never competed with each other and even if Karnataka RTC continues to use the acronym KSRTC, there will be no harm done to Kerala RTC. In a federal system, States need to cooperate and resolve our differences. Neither State must make this a prestige issue,” he said in a statement, however, adding Karnataka will explore all legal options for a legal battle ahead.
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