Gwalior: The Congress party appears to be in legal trouble over its poster campaign targeting Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, which allegedly included the brand name and logo of fintech company PhonePe. According to reports, posters of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have been put up at various places in Gwalior city and other parts of the BJP-ruled state, allegedly saying pay 50 per cent (commission) and get your work done. ,
Such posters were also seen in Chhindwara, Rewa, Satna and state capital Bhopal, which were later removed by the administration. However, the poster campaign of the Congress received a scathing warning from digital payments company PhonePe. Fintech services company has accused the Madhya Pradesh Congress of “unauthorised use” of its logo and said it may take legal action against them.
The posters are in the form of QR code sheets that are used by fintech companies to accept online payments. ‘PhonePe’ can be clearly seen written on those posters.
PhonePe posted on its Twitter handle, “PhonePe objects to the unauthorized use of its brand logo by any third party, whether political or non-political. We are not associated with any political campaign or party.”
PhonePe objects to unauthorized use of its brand logo by any third party, whether political or non-political. We are not affiliated with any political campaign or party. – PhonePe (@PhonePe) 26 June 2023
Tagging it said, “The PhonePe logo is a registered trademark of our company and any unauthorized use of the intellectual property rights of PhonePe will invite legal action. We humbly request the Madhya Pradesh Congress to remove the posters and banners containing our brand logo and colours.” request.” Twitter handle of the state unit of the party.
The PhonePe logo is a registered trademark of our company and any unauthorized use of the Intellectual Property Rights of PhonePe will invite legal action. we humbly request @INCMP To remove posters and banners containing our brand logo and colours. – PhonePe (@PhonePe) 26 June 2023
In the wake of the controversy, the Madhya Pradesh Congress claimed that it was the BJP that started the poster war with the “Wanted Commission Nath” poster that surfaced last week – a charge denied by the ruling BJP.
Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered at Padav police station against the unknown people who pasted the posters and the police is on the lookout for them.