Actor Vijay gets Madras High Court notice over party flag copyright
The Madras High Court on Thursday issued notice to actor Vijay and his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in a civil suit alleging trademark and copyright infringement relating to the party’s flag design.
According to the Bar and Bench, Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy issued the notice on a plea filed by GB Pachaiyappan and the trust he represents, Thondai Mandala Saandror Dharma Paribalana Sabai. The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 29.
The plaintiffs contend that TVK’s flag, which was unveiled in August 2024, is both visually and conceptually similar to their registered trademark. The mark consists of a red-yellow-red tricolour with a central circular motif.
According to trademark records, Pachaiyappan applied to register the mark on November 28, 2023 under Class 45, which covers “personal and social services rendered by others to meet individual needs”.
The application was made in his individual capacity through his counsel, Newton Reginald, and includes the device mark with the text “THONDAI MANDALA SAANDROR DHARMA PARIBALANA SABAI” and the Tamil tagline “VAAZHGA TAMIL – VALARGA THALAIMURAI”. The English translation reads: “Thondai Zone Witnesses Virtue Upkeep Council; Long Live Tamil – Grow Up Generation”.
The suit states that the plaintiffs have been using the flag since 2023 in connection with personal and social services rendered by the trust. These services include the publication of a Tamil magazine titled “Saandror Kural” and the operation of a YouTube channel bearing the same name. The mark was officially registered under Class 45 on June 1, 2024, and the plaintiffs further claim that the central design is an original artistic work entitled to copyright protection.