Who owns Bollywood?
Nobody - you might conclude. None of
the celluloid heroes or the various film
production houses own it. But now if
you want to put 'Bollywood' even on
your coffee mug you could be hauled up for copyright violation by US-based
media and entertainment conglomerate
Disney Enterprises! First it was neem and Basmati that US
companies wanted to register. Now it's
'Bollywood' which has been granted as
a trademark to Disney Enterprises Inc. It
got the 'Bollywood' trademark from the
Indian Trademarks Registry. So, you can soon be drinking Bollywood
beer wearing a Bollywood branded
sweat shirt and shoes all owned by
US-based Disney. Thus, all sites on the
internet containing the word
Bollywood, makers of films like Bollywood Hollywood, all albums
containing the Bollywood name, and
magazines like Bollywood Masala could
also be in for a legal battle. Disney has filed for registration under 7
classes of Schedule 4 of the Indian Trade
Mark rules as well which pertain to
paper products and film and film
equipment. The patent was filed by
Delhi-based Anand & Anand Associates for Disney Enterprises, Inc. The Burbank (California) based Disney
Enterprises Inc, had applied for the
Bollywood trademark under classes of
products, which include paper and
paper products, slippers, shoes, films,
electrical equipment (like switches, gears), cameras, metals, games and
playthings, ornaments and Christmas
tree decorations. Interestingly, the registration of the
'Bollywood' trademark was challenged
by the Indian Motion Pictures and
Producers Association (IMPPA) way back
in 2002. "We opposed the registration
under two classes - 9 (film equipment) and 16 (newspaper and magazines). But on lack of further directions and
interest from IMPPA, we discontinued
the opposition after three months," Mr
Chander M Lall of Lall & Sethi Associates,
told SundayET. Experts, however, say that the Indian
trademarks registry had full powers to
scrutinise the case and raise an
objection before making it public for
objections. "Still, the trademark is open
for challenge and can be cancelled," adds Mr Lall. In this case, Bollywood can
be positioned as a place from which all
Mumbai based films emerge. Disney had filed for patent on January
24, 1995 for the first time through
applications numbered 653071-653077
for products under different classes. Of
this, three applications were granted
trademark in 2002 itself. Two further classes were granted in September of
2005. Disney could now develop these
trademarks as properties.
Disney has Bollywood designs - Economic Times
Nobody - you might conclude. None of
the celluloid heroes or the various film
production houses own it. But now if
you want to put 'Bollywood' even on
your coffee mug you could be hauled up for copyright violation by US-based
media and entertainment conglomerate
Disney Enterprises! First it was neem and Basmati that US
companies wanted to register. Now it's
'Bollywood' which has been granted as
a trademark to Disney Enterprises Inc. It
got the 'Bollywood' trademark from the
Indian Trademarks Registry. So, you can soon be drinking Bollywood
beer wearing a Bollywood branded
sweat shirt and shoes all owned by
US-based Disney. Thus, all sites on the
internet containing the word
Bollywood, makers of films like Bollywood Hollywood, all albums
containing the Bollywood name, and
magazines like Bollywood Masala could
also be in for a legal battle. Disney has filed for registration under 7
classes of Schedule 4 of the Indian Trade
Mark rules as well which pertain to
paper products and film and film
equipment. The patent was filed by
Delhi-based Anand & Anand Associates for Disney Enterprises, Inc. The Burbank (California) based Disney
Enterprises Inc, had applied for the
Bollywood trademark under classes of
products, which include paper and
paper products, slippers, shoes, films,
electrical equipment (like switches, gears), cameras, metals, games and
playthings, ornaments and Christmas
tree decorations. Interestingly, the registration of the
'Bollywood' trademark was challenged
by the Indian Motion Pictures and
Producers Association (IMPPA) way back
in 2002. "We opposed the registration
under two classes - 9 (film equipment) and 16 (newspaper and magazines). But on lack of further directions and
interest from IMPPA, we discontinued
the opposition after three months," Mr
Chander M Lall of Lall & Sethi Associates,
told SundayET. Experts, however, say that the Indian
trademarks registry had full powers to
scrutinise the case and raise an
objection before making it public for
objections. "Still, the trademark is open
for challenge and can be cancelled," adds Mr Lall. In this case, Bollywood can
be positioned as a place from which all
Mumbai based films emerge. Disney had filed for patent on January
24, 1995 for the first time through
applications numbered 653071-653077
for products under different classes. Of
this, three applications were granted
trademark in 2002 itself. Two further classes were granted in September of
2005. Disney could now develop these
trademarks as properties.
Disney has Bollywood designs - Economic Times
