The document discusses the registration of trademarks containing words in foreign languages in India. It provides details on the doctrine of foreign equivalents followed by the Indian trademark registry to determine if a foreign trademark can be registered. It examines translations and transliterations of foreign marks and whether they conflict with existing Indian marks or are descriptive. It summarizes some key court cases that addressed disputes over foreign language trademarks and the principles considered, such as whether the meaning of a foreign word would be understood by most Indian consumers.

1. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
“Registration of
Trademarks in
foreign languages”
Indumathi.G

2. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
India, being a country of 780
languages, is still inquisitive of
learning various other foreign
languages. There are few that are
opted at schools itself. Thus there
are more chances for a word to have
different meanings in various
languages. More correctly more
chances of getting trashed at other
states with our native language!!

3. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

4. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
When this is the case within the
national boundary, imagine taking
it to the global level! At the wake
of this LPG, there are more and
more brands that grow everyday
beyond its former territory.

5. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
So! How does a mark in a foreign language gets registered in India?
- The Indian market, now has a huge number of foreign brands that we
ourselves choose to pick the one of the foreign brands over the Indian
brand! But have we ever wondered as to what the brand’s name mean?

6. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Lets look at what the Indian Trademarks rules say about it.
The rule 33 of the Trademark Rules,2002 states that an
endorsement of transliteration and translation for
trademarks which contain a word or words in scripts other
than Hindi or English on the application form and the
additional representations thereof, and every such
endorsement is also required to state the language to
which the word belongs.

7. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
TheTrademark Registry following the rule decided on the
followingTrademarks that were in foreign languages.

8. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
THE DOCTRINE OF FOREIGN EQUIVALENTS (THE
DOCTRINE)
To decide on a Trademark in a foreign language, the
Trademark registry follows the above doctrine where the
foreign Trademark is translated to the native or the
common languages of the country.Then it is determined
to see if it conflicts with the existing marks. It is
tested if the consumers who knows the language would
per se translate the word which would cause confusion
with the existing trademarks. The word is tested for its
generic and descriptive relevance with the goods.

9. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Translation is meaning of something in language
other than the one in which it was said/written.
Transliteration gives the word from
a different language in letters that you can understand
so as to be able to pronounce it.
Ελευθερ
Ελευθερία
(Greek)
Freedom
Ελευθερία
(Greek) Eleutheria

10. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Though earlier many foreign trademarks which did not
qualify the test were allowed by the registry, of late the
doctrine is widely applied and when found not to stand the
test are rejected under the following sections.
Sec 9 (1) (a) - which are devoid of any distinctive character,
that is to say, not capable of distinguishing the goods or
services of one person from those of another person
Sec 9 (1) (b)- which consist exclusively of marks or
indications which may serve in trade to designate the kind,
quality, quantity, intended purpose, values, geographical
origin or the time of production of the goods or rendering
of the service or other characteristics of the goods or
service

11. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
Lets see what the final words were on disputes in
registration!!
AktiebolagetVolvo of Sweden vs.Volvo Steels Ltd.of
Gujarat [1998 PTC 63 (Bom)]
Mark Disputed:VOLVO (machines)
Language: Latin
Meaning:“To roll up” “re-rolling” to roll together”
Principle followed: likelihood that the customers may translate the
word easily and get confused with the meaning of the word in English”
Held: The impugned foreign word (Volvo) originated from a “dead and
obscure language,” Latin, the Doctrine, which is “not an absolute rule but
merely a guideline,” would not be applicable.

12. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
C Kamani Oil Industries Pvt.Ltd.vs Bhuwaneshwar Refineries Pvt.
Ltd [2014(4) BomCR 487]
Mark Disputed: RISOVs. RISO LITE (rise bran oil)
Language: Italian
Meaning: Rice
Principle followed:Awareness of the majority customers
Held: Not descriptive as the majority Indians are not aware that the word RISO in
Italian means Rice.
M/S.Hitachi Ltd.vs Ajay Kumar Agarwal [ILR 1996 Delhi 359]
Mark Disputed: HITACHI Vs. HITAISHI (electronics)
Meaning: “Hi” means Sun and “Tachi” means to raise or to
stand in Chinese and “Well wisher” in Hindi
Held: The word ‘HITACHI’ and ‘HITAISHI’ are pronounced almost the
same way and an average or ordinary purchaser will not be able to know
the difference between the two when he goes to the market to buy the
said product.This is likely to cause deception and confusion in his mind.
Even though the meaning of the two words may be different and they are
written in different scripts, there is no doubt that both words have a
striking phonetic similarity.

13. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
 To end
The necessity of the double door scrutiny of the foreign
language marks is recommendable not just to meet out the
purpose of the TM act, but even to avoid embarrassment of
obscene meanings of the word. With the linguistic boundary
of India extending to more and more foreign languages, the
doctrine will act as an effective foolproof. However, the
peculiarity of each case shall be considered before a
decision on acceptance of the mark is made. As
complications grow more principles and doctrines are to
arise. The present doctrine is also considered as a mere
guideline and not a standing rule. So, lets wait for the law to
grow old enough to understand and adopt to this linguistic
outrage.

14. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
고맙습니다

15. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
#1533, Trichy Road,
Coimbatore – 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 - 6552921
HYDERABAD
Suite 132 & 133,
Level 1, Midtown,
Road No 1, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad - 500034.
Tel: +91 - 40 - 6050 6009
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
DISCLAIMER
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pr esent at ion is used in f air use f or t he
pur pose of st udy, review or cr it ical
analysis only, and will be r emoved at t he
r equest of t he copyr ight owner (s).