Question : TRADE MARK OF VAASTU REGISTERED BY GERMAN COMPANY



(a) whether `Vaastu` has been registered as a trade mark by a German Company five years back; and

(b) if so, the action proposed to take legal recourse against the registration to save Indian Vaastu experts in their commercial venture?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI CH. Vidyasagar Rao)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) Trademarks are registered under the sovereign prerogatives of countries according to their respective trademark laws and have territorial effect i.e. they are valid only in the country of registration and do not curtail the interests of person(s) outside that jurisdiction. Under trademarks law, in India and elsewhere, these expressions can be the subject matter of a trademark which can be registered. Challenge of such registered trademarks is to be made by those whose commercial or other interests are affected in accordance with the laws of the country concerned.