Intellectual Property Body Restricts Delhi-Based Entity From Using "Khadi" Brand Name

World Intellectual Property Organisation has ordered a Delhi firm against using a domain name which illegally uses the brand name "Khadi".

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has ordered a Delhi-based firm against using a domain name www.urbankhadi.com, which illegally uses the brand name “Khadi”. The administrative panel of WIPO's Arbitration and Mediation Centre has ruled that the firm “Om Soft Solutions”, owned by one Harsh Gaba, had registered and used the domain name www.urbankhadi.com in “bad faith” and to gain benefit from the goodwill of Khadi. The panel's order came on a petition of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) against “Om Soft Solutions” which was indulging in the business of garments by misusing the brand name “Khadi”, a statement issued by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises said. WIPO is a specialised agency of the United Nations for brand protection across the world.