"KSRTC" Abbreviation Belongs To Karnataka SRTC, Kerala's Claim Dismissed

The Madras High Court has authorized Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to use the abbreviation “KSRTC,” rejecting Kerala Transport Corporation”s claim. With this, a long fight between the Karnataka and Kerala State Road Transport Corporations came to an end. Currently, both corporations are using the abbreviation “KSRTC,” and with the new verdict, the abbreviation will be the property of Karnataka SRTC.

Confirming the registration with the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks, the court ruled in favor of the Karnataka SRTC by stating that there is no legal prohibition for them to use the KSRTC abbreviation. The court also rejected the Kerala SRTC”s claim. Karnataka SRTC, in a statement, confirmed that a Trade Mark Certificate for the use of the “KSRTC” abbreviation and a copyright protection for the use of the “KSRTC” logo and the “Gandabherunda art” were granted to them by the Trade Mark Registry and the Registrar of Copyrights, respectively, in 2013, with a user date dating back to November 1, 1973.

The Kerala SRTC is the one that started the legal battle by challenging trademark registration before the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) in Chennai. The case was initially being considered by IPAB. However, since the government”s decision to abolish the IPAB, the case has gone to the Madras High Court.

Karnataka SRTC claimed that the Kerala SRTC was aware of the trademark”s use by the Karnataka SRTC for 42 years, and thus, Kerala”s argument is invalid.