Intel moves Bombay High Court over trademark

The world’s leading microchip maker, Intel Corporation, has moved the Bombay High Court challenging a decision by the trademarks registry to renew the company’s trademark — Intel — in favour of a Mumbai-based firm.

The world’s leading microchip maker, Intel Corporation, has moved the Bombay High Court challenging a decision by the trademarks registry to renew the company’s trademark — Intel — in favour of a Mumbai-based firm.

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The trademarks registry had rejected Intel’s plea for registering its trademark in the country, and instead gave it to Intel Exports Corporation, a city firm owned by Prabhakar Deodhar.

The global giant has stated in its petition that the trademark had been removed from the register of trademarks and was declared lapsed on August 16, 2003. The trademark was renewed in September 2007, though the registrar general of trademarks has no authority to renew a trademark lapsed before a year, the petition says.

The petition adds that the renewal certificate submitted by Intel Exports Corporation did not even show renewal of the trademark for the period of seven years, ending October 2007.

Pravin Walia, finance controller of Intel Exports Corporation, however, said his firm had owned the trademark since 1976. “As far as India is concerned, we are owners of the trademark, and we have valid certificates to that effect.”