Chennai Trust Moves Madras High Court Over Vijay’s TVK Party Flag

Quick Summary:

• The Madras High Court issued notices to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and its president, actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay, regarding a civil suit over TVK’s party flag color scheme.
• Thondai Mandala Saandror Dharma Paribalana Sabai, a Chennai-based registered trust, alleged the TVK flag is “deceptively” similar to its trademarked symbol.
• The trust applied for trademark registration in November 2023 and received certification on June 1, 2024.
• In August 2024, the trust noticed similarities with TVK’s flag and sent a legal notice in May 2025. TVK responded that it does not engage in commercial activities and considers the issue outside the scope of trademark law.
• The plaintiff argues both organizations are involved in social services; thus, similar symbols could create public confusion.
• The trust has used its trademark actively for promotional materials, a Tamil monthly magazine titled Saandror Kural, and social media platforms like YouTube that contribute to goodwill around its emblem.
• A permanent injunction against TVK’s current flag design has been sought by the plaintiffs alongside an interim injunction until resolution.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The case highlights notable questions about intellectual property rights applicability beyond commercial domains-particularly when entities operate within overlapping social spaces. while trademarks generally protect commercial identifiers from misuse or consumer confusion, this dispute calls attention to thier relevance for non-commercial organizations engaged in public-oriented work such as social service or advocacy.

Actor-politician Joseph Vijay’s response underscores potentially differing interpretations of trademark law applicability. If similarities between logos or flags lead to misidentification among stakeholders or supporters, real-world consequences like reputation dilution may arise-a consideration central to this case proceedings.

As India witnesses increasing intersection of cultural icons entering politics-ofen utilizing strong visual imagery-the court’s decision here might set precedent over how intellectual property disputes are approached between political movements and trusts functioning within non-commercial frameworks.Read more: The Hindu