Popular Indian brands being copied and sold in China: Government

NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday said cases where products belonging to popular Indian brands like Natraj Pencil, Boroplus antiseptic cream, Raymond, Onida etc., are being copied and sold in China have come to light.

"Some complaints involving copyright or trademark violation against Indian brands or products by the Chinese companies were received," Minister of State (MoS) for Commerce and Industry D Purandeshwari said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The cases in question relate to counterfeiting of 'Natraj' pencil brand of Hindustan Pencils Ltd; Ahuja Radios; infringement of trademark of 'Boroplus'; infringement of 'Raymond' trademark and JKFiles and Tools on Files; violation of 'Onida' trademark; counterfeiting of Indian incense stick brands; and counterfeiting of Dabur products.

However, except for preliminary information received from Dabur, none of the Indian enterprises has provided supplementary evidence to the Embassy of India, Beijing for strengthening its case, the minister said.

Besides, no specific case of such counterfeit products being sold in the Indian market has come to the notice of the government, Purandeshwari said, adding that the onus of trademark registration and protection in China lies on the enterprises concerned.

Replying to a separate query, the Minister said the Directorate General of Anti-dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) has initiated investigation concerning imports of solar cells.

The probe is regarding dumping of photo-voltaic modules in the Indian market by foreign suppliers. These involve solar cells assembled partially or fully originating in or exported from Malaysia, China PR, Chinese Taipei and the US on November 23, 2012. However, the findings of the probe are yet to come.