Nestle India and Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing
Federation (GCMMF), which markets its dairy products under the brand
'Amul' are locked in a row over using a trademark.
GCMMF has sent a legal notice to Nestle India stating about the trademark infringement when the latter launched its own brand of milk and yoghurt under the brand name-a+ (Plus), in December last year, sources privy to development said.
Amul has claimed in the notice that is has been selling fortified cheese under the brand 'Amul A+' since one year and high calcium milk labelled as 'Amul Calci+' since last four years, they said.
While, Nestle India has claimed that it was using the brand a+ (Plus) for its milk and yoghurt as it has purchased it from a person in North India.
"We are in talks with Amul over the alleged infringement of trademark, which we had purchased from a North Indian," a Nestle India executive said, preferring anonymity.
An e-mail sent to Nestle India for case details did not solicit response.
However, neither of the two leading dairy product marketing giants have moved court over the issue. They are still in dialogue and seeking an amicable solution to it through negotiations, according to sources.
"We are not commenting on the issue as negotiations are still underway with Nestle India over the trademark infringement issue," a top GCMMF functionary told PTI, on the condition of anonymity.
An executive of Nestle India said in an e-mail reply to PTI, "The A+ brand is legally assigned to us in accordance with accepted practices. We are currently in discussions with Amul and prefer not to comment further,".
The over Rs 9,700 crore brand Amul enjoys 25 per cent share in the country's organised milk retail and 70 per cent in the cheese market segment.
GCMMF has sent a legal notice to Nestle India stating about the trademark infringement when the latter launched its own brand of milk and yoghurt under the brand name-a+ (Plus), in December last year, sources privy to development said.
Amul has claimed in the notice that is has been selling fortified cheese under the brand 'Amul A+' since one year and high calcium milk labelled as 'Amul Calci+' since last four years, they said.
While, Nestle India has claimed that it was using the brand a+ (Plus) for its milk and yoghurt as it has purchased it from a person in North India.
"We are in talks with Amul over the alleged infringement of trademark, which we had purchased from a North Indian," a Nestle India executive said, preferring anonymity.
An e-mail sent to Nestle India for case details did not solicit response.
However, neither of the two leading dairy product marketing giants have moved court over the issue. They are still in dialogue and seeking an amicable solution to it through negotiations, according to sources.
"We are not commenting on the issue as negotiations are still underway with Nestle India over the trademark infringement issue," a top GCMMF functionary told PTI, on the condition of anonymity.
An executive of Nestle India said in an e-mail reply to PTI, "The A+ brand is legally assigned to us in accordance with accepted practices. We are currently in discussions with Amul and prefer not to comment further,".
The over Rs 9,700 crore brand Amul enjoys 25 per cent share in the country's organised milk retail and 70 per cent in the cheese market segment.
No comments:
Post a Comment