One more win for India in basmati patent battle

NEW DELHI, OCT 17: India has again notched a victory in its patent battle for Basmati rice, forcing a US company to withdraw its `kasmati'...

NEW DELHI, OCT 17: India has again notched a victory in its patent battle for Basmati rice, forcing a US company to withdraw its `kasmati’ trademark from the UK market.

Following a cancellation action filed by the Indian government through the agricultural and processed food products export development authority (APEDA), Ricetec Inc, that had patented four strains of Basmati rice, was forced to withdraw its claim.

India maintained that Basmati has traditionally been associated with a specific region of the Indian sub-continent, the sub-Himalyan region. This name has been in use for long to describe the unique long-grained aromatic rice grown in this region.

Story continues below this ad

Consequently, the name is the geographical indication for such rice and can be used only by legitimate growers, traders, millers, retailers and exporters of basmati rice, India argued.

The registration obtained by Ricetec for the word `kasmati’, which sounds deceptively similar to Basmati, confers upon Ricetec a monlopoly, contrary to the name’s significance as a geographical indication, APEDA said.

Debris found in Dal Lake could be from missile Pak fired during Op Sindoor

India1 hr ago

Debris believed to be from a missile fired by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May has been found in Srinagar's Dal Lake. The debris has been handed over to the Air Force for further investigation. Sources say the target may have been a military installation in Srinagar, which is close to the lake. The make of the missile is yet to be determined.

View all shorts

Live Blog