Although this story a bit older I thought it to be interesting.
New Delhi: International luxury giant Montblanc on Monday assured the Supreme Court that it will not use the picture and name of Mahatma Gandhi for commercial purposes.
The undertaking to this effect by Montblanc Boutique and Montblanc International GMBH was given to the apex court after Government said that it has rejected the plea of the MNC seeking permission to use the image of Gandhi for its high-end Mahatma Gandhi limited edition pens.
Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium said that the Government has issued a notification in this regard after rejecting the application ofMontblanc.
“We will not permit the use of word or picture of Mahatma Gandhi for commercial purpose.
This is a national emblem and this cannot be used for commercial purpose,” he submitted before a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices Deepak Verma and B S Chauhan.
He said the company has to make an honest commitment that it will not sell the pens anymore.
The counsel for the MNC said that such an undertaking has already been given to the Kerala High Court in February this year and it was ready to do so before the apex court.
The bench recorded the undertaking of the Montblanc and said “it will also be binding on the distributors of the luxury pens”.
The apex court was hearing the petition filed by two lawyers claiming the Montblanc Boutique and Montblanc International GMBH were misusing Mahatma’s name for marketing purposes.
It had issued notices to the Centre and the MNC on the petition filed by Harsh Vardhan Surana and Sandeep Singh alleging that the company was using the greatness of the person to sell an ordinary product at unbelievable high prices.
The petition had claimed the practice adopted by the company in this regard was in violation of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act.
“Under the Act, no person can use for the purpose of any trade, business or calling or profession, or in the title of any patent, or in any trademark or design, any name or emblem, specified in the Schedule or any any colourable imitation without the previous permission of the Centre,” the PIL had said.
Source: Press Trust of India – IBNLive.com
MontBlanc launched the Special Theme Edition Mahatma Ghandi Fountain Pen after reaching an agreement with Gandhi’s great-grandson.
Tushar Gandhi’s charity was paid more than 90,000 eruo, roughly $109,000 US, for its approval and was to receive a further commission on each pen sold.
In my opinion, if proceeds were going to charity and the charity was reputable, then why not. Why cause turmoil in the name of Mahatma Gandhi?
Would Gandhi not want to give all he could of himself and expect that from others. With all the Theme Edition Fountain Pens from Montblanc, the intentions were good and it’s a shame that others see this act differently.
To see a detailed picture of the Mahatma Gandhi Pen visit Montblanc’s page.
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