Birla Corp contests UltraTech's copyright violation claim over use of name

Its argument is based on the grounds that the use of the word 'Ultra' is neither a copyright violation, nor does UltraTech have exclusive rights over the word under dispute

Birla Corporation is contesting UltraTech Cement’s claim of copyright infringement over the use of the word ‘Ultra’ in its products. It argued that it is neither a violation of copyright, nor does UltraTech have exclusive rights over the word under dispute.

Sources aware of the development said that according to the Trade Marks Act, 1999, copyrighted words have to be used in the complete context and not in isolation. 

While UltraTech Cement has products and brands like UltraTech Concrete, UltraTech Ready Mix, and UltraCem, Birla Corporation has MP Birla Cement Ultimate Ultra and others.

The word in question, the sources argued, is a