Application of trademark for “Amma Mineral Water” at the Trademark Registry in Chennai is most likely to be rejected as the trademark is devoid of any distinctive character.
The trade mark, Amma Mineral Water, is open to objection on relative grounds of refusal under Section 11 of the Trademarks Act, 1999 Act because the same/similar trademarks are already in the record of the register for the same or similar goods/services.
The Registrar of Trade Marks had asked the applicant State Express Transport Corporation, Tamil Nadu to submit its response. As the transport corporation did not file its response within the stipulated time, the application would be rejected in due course, the Registrar said.
The State Express Transport Corporation of Tamil Nadu had applied for trademark for ‘Amma Mineral Water’ in the year 2013. ‘Amma Water’ is a product of Amma Mineral Water manufacturing units set up in 2013 by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, who is called “Amma” by her followers. The Mineral Water bottle was Tamil Nadu’s government initiative to provide hygienic and sterile drinking water at affordable price. Similarly other services in the name of “Amma” operate in the state like low-cost canteens ‘Amma Canteen’ and other affordable products like ‘Amma Salt’.