Indian Trademark Statistics for March (Third Week), Trademark Win for Panchavati Group, Weinstein in A Legal Battle over a Trademark Phrase, Adidas and GOT Collaboration, Marayoor Jaggery GI and more, brought to you by the Trademark Attorneys at BananaIP (BIP) Counsels.
TRADEMARK QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Every advertisement should be thought of as a contribution to the complex symbol which is the brand image” – David Ogilvy
INDIAN TRADEMARK STATISTICS
In the last week, the Indian Trademark Office has had a mixed week. The total number of hearing notices issued has increased by twenty nine percent (29%). However, the total number of trademark applications examined has decreased by thirty percent (30%). Similarly, the total number of renewals notices issued has decreased by twenty five percent (25%).
Weekly Indian Trademark Statistics
| Particulars | Last Week | This Week | Change in % |
| Total Trademark Applications Examined by Trademark Office | 8644 | 6048 | A decrease of 30% |
| Total Applications Disposed through Show Cause Hearings | 6711 | 6300 | A decrease of 6% |
| Total Applications Published in the Trademark Journal | 7743 | 7749 | An increase of 0.8% |
| Total Registrations Granted | 7844 | 7874 | An increase of .3% |
| Total Hearing Notices Issued | 6440 | 8326 | An increase of 29% |
| Total Renewals Notices Issued | 2074 | 1560 | A decrease of 25% |
Trademark Statistics by Office
Total Number of New Applications Received from March 20th, 2019 to March 27th, 2019
| Sr. No | Jurisdiction | New Applications | Examined | Published | Registered |
| 1 | AHMEDABAD | 711 | 364 | 962 | 930 |
| 2 | CHENNAI | 1366 | 565 | 1451 | 1714 |
| 3 | DELHI | 2148 | 1019 | 2117 | 2317 |
| 4 | KOLKATA | 422 | 142 | 249 | 411 |
| 5 | MUMBAI | 1413 | 741 | 1985 | 2030 |
| Total | 6060 | 2831 | 6764 | 7402 |
Yearly Trademark Statistics
Trademark Statistics from January 01st, 2019 to March 27th, 2019
- Total Number of Trademark Applications Filed – 82579
- Total Number of Trademark Applications Examined – 41001
- Total Number of Trademark Applications Published – 80936
- Total Number of Trademark Applications Registered – 68060
INTERESTING BRAND NEWS
Okurrr – A mistake Bound to Happen
No, no we have not misspelled the word just to tease our readers. Joining the list of celebrities who have filed unusual trademarks is Cardi B, an American singer and rapper. The rapper has filed an application with the USPTO for the word ‘Okurrr’ and ‘Okurr’ which can be used on apparels as well as stationary. We just hope the USPTO is able to spell it out without adding additional ‘rrrr’ in the mark.
INDIAN TRADEMARK UPDATES
Trademark Win for Panchavati Group
Hotel Panchavati, part of the Panchavati Group, a well-known in the hospitality service industry filed for a trademark injunction to restrain the Panchvati Hotel from infringing and passing off on the former’s registered trademark “Panchavati” in respect of hotel and food services. In first week of 2019, Hotel Panchavati came across the existence of the domain name www.hotel-panchvati-pachmarhi-mptdc.hotelsgds.com running identical services under the deceptive trademark ‘Panchvati’. The Bombay High Court observed that Hotel Panchavati had obtained wide and enviable reputation and goodwill due to its open and continuous use of the mark since early 80’s. In its further observation, the Court stated that it would cause public confusion considering the close similarity in the trademarks and the nature of businesses, and therefore, an ex-parte interim injunction was passed against the Panchvati Hotel from using the descriptively similar name.
INTERNATIONAL TRADEMARK UPDATES
Trouble is in the Air: Orlando Airport in Trademark Battle with Melbourne Airport
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), a government entity operating the airport, has filed a trademark infringement suit against Orlando-Melbourne International Airport (MLB), an airport situated in Florida USA, for trademark infringement and false advertising. GOAA is alleging in the suit that the use of the word ‘Orlando’ by MLB is illegal as it is used without authorization, is likely to cause confusion amongst the customers, and is diluting its trademark. GOAA is claiming permanent injunction on the use of the word Orlando by MLB, including the advertisement, a retraction statement displayed on its website for at least one year along with attorney fees. The lawsuit has been filed after a number of failed negotiations which has taken place between the parties since 2015.
Weinstein in A Legal Battle over a Trademark Phrase
Dave Johnson, a sports announcer in USA, has filed a trademark infringement suit against Weinstein Co., an entertainment and production company based out of USA, for using the phrase ‘And down the stretch they come’. Johnson has claimed in the lawsuit that the phrase has been used in the 2014 movie, St. Vincent, by Bill Murray in an unflattering way, which “infringes, damages, blurs, tarnishes, and dilutes the mark and the rights along with his reputation”. Johnson is claiming trademark infringement and is seeking monetary relief
BRAND LICENSING UPDATES
Adidas and GOT Collaboration
The Sportswear major Adidas has joined forces with the legendary television series, Game of Thrones to design a line of Ultraboost sneakers inspired by the major players of the Seven Kingdoms when the final season is right around the corner. The collection features two women’s designs, House Lannister, House Targaryen, and four men’s deisgns, White Walkers, Targaryen’s Dragons, House Stark, and House Lannister. This limited edition collection is available exclusively on Adidas website and at select retailers from March 22nd, 2019.
Chennai Super Kings Launches Merchandise
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) fever has already kicked in, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the IPL franchisee has announced the launch of their licensed merchandise for the 2019 IPL season. CSK has partnered with 12 brands through Baseline Ventures, a strategic sports, media and entertainment licensing firm to produce its exclusive merchandise. CSK has joined hands with Sonata for watches and fitness brands, The Souled Store for apparel, Oye Happy for gifts, and more. The products will be available on CSK app, the team website, stores and websites of licensee firms. Dunzo, the popular delivery mobile application has also been signed up as a licensed delivery partner for faster delivery for the CSK fans.
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION UPDATES
Marayoor Jaggery Finally Gets GI
Marayoor Jaggery locally called as Marayoor sharkara has been granted GI tag for the agriculture category falling under class 30 of the GI classification. Marayoor Jaggery is the unrefined, concentrated product of cane juice prepared from the sugarcane grown in the Marayoor and Kanthallur Panchayats in Idukki District of Kerala State. It is a traditional sweetening agent and is also used in Ayurveda medicines. No natural or artificial sweetening agents are added in this dark brown jaggery which is made in traditional methods. The application was filed by Anchunadu Karimbu Ulpadhana Vipanana Sangham facilitated by the IPR cell of Kerala Agricultural University in March, 2018.
Author: BIP Trademark Attorneys
Led by Sanjeeth Hegde, BIP’s Trademark Attorneys are among the leading experts in the field. They work on trademark filing, prosecution, management, licensing, franchising, merchandizing, litigation, and strategy for clients such as PEPS, Yash Raj Films, Dharma Productions, Essilor, Samsung and the IITs.
The weekly trademark news initiative is a part of their pro bono work and is aimed at spreading trademark awareness. You are free to share the news with appropriate attribution and backlink to the source.
If you have any questions, you may write to BIP’s Trademark Attorneys at contact@bananaip.com
