Unauthorized use of the acronym ICAI by two bodies

Unauthorized use of the acronym ICAI

A letter issued to the institute of cost accountants of India. Unauthorized use of the acronym ICAI by two bodies is a long legal battle now. But government issued a letter to the CMA body. It sought the stand of the institute of cost accountants of India. The ICAI has accused the institute of cost accountants of India of contravention of Trade Mark provisions.

Following is the text of the letter- 

A representation has been received from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India dated 28th May 2020 stating that the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India dated 28th May 2020 stating that the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is a statutory body set up by an Act of Parliament namely the professions of Chartered Accountants and inter-alia to conduct Chartered Accountancy examinations across the country for the aspiring candidates.

2. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is continuously using the acronym/ abbreviations of its name “ICAI” since its inception (01.07.1949) in all its communications, correspondence, public forum, international forum, representations, etc. and as such the Institute has acquired a distinctive character and is exclusively considered to be associated with the identity of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has registered “ICAI” as its Trade Mark (Trademark No. 2121118).

3. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has further stated that The Institute of Cost Accountants of India is also a statutory body set up by the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 with the pre-dominant objective to regulate the professions of Cost Accountants and to conduct the Cost Accountancy examinations across the country for the aspiring candidates.

4. It has been pointed out that The Institute of Cost Accountants of India has unauthorizedly used the acronym “ICAI” to denote its identity, which is in violation of Section 24A of Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 and the provisions of Trade Marks Act, 1999 relating to infringement of Trade Marks.

5. It is felt that each Institute must be distinctively recognizable since they have been created for different professional service.

6. Comments of The Institute of Cost Accountants of India are accordingly sought on the above representation of ICAI.

7. In view of the above, it is not desirable for The Institute of Cost Accountants of India to use the acronym “ICAI”.

8. This issues with the approval of the competent authority.

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