India steps up IP protection for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway's century-old logos

Being named a UNESCO World Heritage Site can help to catalyse tourist interest, and thus generate value for a country’s economy. As these sites are regularly reviewed to assess whether their conservation status qualifies them for a continued place on this list, it also incentivises governments to prioritise the protection of their countries’ historical architecture and infrastructure. If one views heritage as a culture’s intellectual property, then initiatives such as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites are a form of protection for such IP.

One entry on this prestigious list is India’s Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), which was built in the British era around 1881 and awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999. Its trains are also called the Toy Train, the Iron Sherpa and Queen of the Hills.

According to The Indian Express, “two years ago, the unsatisfactory state of affairs at DHR had invited scrutiny, and the property had seemed in danger of losing its prestigious World Heritage Site recognition”.

However, the authorities in charge of this valuable heritage have since stepped up their game. One way they are doing so is by seeking more legal protection for two DHR logos, which are both over a century old. Their value is considerable — the logos are used, without permission, by companies in Europe, the UK and the US.

First, DHR registered its logos with the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks under India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Then, this claim was sent to the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for further processing, as part of the goal of getting international recognition for India’s ownership over these logos. As a result, anyone wishing to use them in future will need written permission from the authorities and will also have to pay a fee.

As AI-powered IP management platform MikeLegal puts it, the move is a way to "wield soft power and strengthen the nation’s position in the international community. Time and again, India and other countries with rich history and culture have had to take steps to ensure the protection of indigenous treasures like arts, crafts and entities of cultural or historic significance from becoming the subject of appropriation. India itself has had to fight against patents on food items like turmeric, neem and basmati rice in the US".

DHR has also been restoring the original artwork – which includes these logos – of its brand on its cutlery and stations, and reviving artwork retrieved from its archives to bolster its heritage credentials. This is a great example of how IP that is properly documented and protected can be a valuable brand differentiator and marketing tool.

PitchMark helps innovators deter idea theft, so that clients get the idea but don’t take it. Visit PitchMark.net and register for free as a PitchMark member today.

Topics

Categories

Dior’s use of Balinese textile shows value of IP for nation-branding

When the world was in the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic and most borders were closed in 2020, the catwalks of Paris were enlivened by a dash of Indonesian culture thanks to the Christian Dior spring-summer 2021 ready-to-wear fashion show, which featured traditional Ikat Endek fabric handmade by weavers in Bali.
Also known as Wastra or Kain Endek, this style of textile involves dyeing the warp

From paella to kimchi, countries are using IP benchmarks to protect beloved national dishes

Everybody gets upset when their ideas get stolen, and if that idea happens to be a beloved national dish, then get ready for sparks to fly. Perhaps because food is intimately tied to notions of cultural identity, improper culinary appropriation – or the perception of it – tends to make people extremely salty and the ensuring furore extra spicy.

Recently, the government of Valencia – the reg

Museums are licensing images of ancient relics and other masterpieces. But who really owns this IP?

Celebrating the Lunar New Year in China is an old tradition, but in recent years, it has also become an occasion for using new technology, most notably through the gifting of digital hongbaos (the name for red paper packets containing money) using different e-wallet platforms.
This year, the enterprising fintech innovators of China have come up with yet another new way to mark the festive seas

The important role of IP as Philippines aims to become Southeast Asia's top creative economy

In September 2021, the Philippines’ House of Representatives passed a landmark bill known as the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act. It could soon become a law, and its goal is nothing less than to make the country Southeast Asia's top creative economy by 2030.
Already, the Philippines’ creative sector is full of potential. In 2014, with little government support, the creative econo

Let your clients get the idea, without taking it.

PitchMark deters idea theft and provides you with options if it happens.

PitchMark protects the expression of your original concepts, designs, proposals, business plans, creative pitches, music - in short, any idea that you conceived and published, and claim as your own. It gives you peace-of-mind by signalling to whoever you share it with that you are its creator, and that you wish to be respected as such.

If you receive or evaluate ideas or pitches, join PitchMark as a sign of your commitment to respect the Intellectual Property rights of their creators. Attract more in-depth pitches from a wider range of sources. Highlight your PitchMark membership in your Sustainability or CSR Report.