Thiruvananthapuram: The financial crisis gripping Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) may soon lose the right to use the word-mark ‘KSRTC’ on its buses.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation has reportedly asked Kerala to refrain from using the name KSRTC after their trademark registration application was accepted by the Trade Marks Registry under the Ministry of Industry.
It was in December 2013 Karnataka applied for trademark licence with the Registrar of Trade Marks. They received a favourable response from the Registrar four months back.
Responding to the news reports on the Karnataka government’s move for the 'KSRTC' brand, Antony Chacko, Managing Director of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has said Kerala will fight it out legally.
“We will appeal before the Registrar of Trademarks against the Karnataka government’s move,” he said.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation began as the Travancore State Transport Department, constituted by the Travancore King, in 1937. It got the name KSRTC in 1953 whereas Karnataka began its operations much later in 1974.