India recently made headlines as it successfully registered the trademark logos of the globally recognized ‘Toy Train’. Going forward, utilization of these logos worldwide would necessitate written approval from India and the payment of a fee. The logos have received international intellectual property registration following an application to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) using WIPO’s Vienna Classification norms.
The Registration Process
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) possesses two distinctive logos — both now patented. The procedure for registering these logos under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks commenced in August 2021. Following this, the application was sent to WIPO.
These immensely popular logos that are over a century old are used liberally on products and communication materials by numerous commercial entities in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The West Bengal government has also employed these logos for communication and merchandise purposes in the past.
International Significance
The international registration of these logos will amplify recognition and the global status of the Darjeeling Toy Train’s ‘Iron Sherpa’ blue steam locomotives. This elevates them to the esteemed level of the legendary transalpine Rhaetian Railway in Switzerland.
About DHR
Constructed during the British era between 1879 and 1881, the DHR is nestled in West Bengal’s Himalayan foothills. It serves as an unparalleled example of a hill passenger railway, demonstrating bold and ingenious engineering solutions to effectively establish a rail link across beautiful mountainous terrain. In 1999, DHR was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
Other Mountain Railways As World Heritage Sites
Apart from DHR, other mountain railways that have received the World Heritage Site designation include:
– The Nilgiri Mountain Railways in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri Hills (South India) in 2005.
– The Kalka Shimla Railway in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh (Northwest India) in 2008.
WIPO’s Vienna Classification
The Vienna Classification (VCL), established in 1973 by the Vienna Agreement, is an international classification system. It facilitates the classification of marks’ figurative elements into categories, divisions, and sections based on their form. As one of the oldest specialized agencies of the United Nations, WIPO, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, manages the system.
