[Evyas]

Originally Posted by audioholic

Doesn't Mahindra have a strong Legal and compliance team to check all these implications before going all over the place with such a codeword name? Why are they talking about a legal battle after the release is over?

You'll be surprised at how lax the legal teams are in a lot of big companies. I know I am. Maybe its hubris, maybe its another company trying to pick a fight to get into the limelight and maybe sometimes (from limited experience) the legal departments are also overlooked since the big bosses/marketing decided it's not big enough to cause a lawsuit.

Bad example (maybe) but look at the recent controversy over 'Singham Returns' with T-Series suing them for copyright infringement over usage of their old songs and theme music (earlier Singham movies were with T-Series). So they couldn't do a 'ata mazhi satakli' song or use any character intro theme music! The makers had to literally recreate new theme intros, songs and paste them on the movie a day before release - the film sounded weird and patchy and even ended abruptly with no end theme song. You'd think a 300cr + movie team that has made movies for decades would have done this basic due diligence!

[pedrolourenco]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

A petition was filed by IndiGo Airlines alleging infringement of its IATA assigned call sign "6E", which has lately become a synonym for the airline. Indigo says 6E is an integral part of its identity since the past 18 years and has been recognised globally. Indigo wants to protect its intellectual property and brand identity

6E is the airline code for flight numbers or callsign. This is assigned by IATA. Going by this logic, RTO has assigned GA as the state code for all my vehicles since 1996, so GA is a synonym for me. Anyone else using this is an infringement.

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Mahindra claims the trademark granted to them is “BE 6e” vs Indigo’s standalone “6E”. The categories of their respective trademarks are different as well.

I think Mahindra has a valid point here.

[ron178]

Originally Posted by Evyas

You'll be surprised at how lax the legal teams are in a lot of big companies.

Another example that comes to mind is the recent case of the Alfa Romeo Milano (Alfa Romeo's new EV can't be named Milano, it's against the law says Italy. EDIT: Renamed Junior).

[Bluengel180]

To be honest I don't like either names. The reviewers were having a field day pronouncing the BE 6E as "Be sexy" which I'm sure the general public would have too. Not a name I can take seriously.

[Blue Express]

Still surprised as to why Indigo needed to create such an issue from this in the first place. If airlines started suing others because IATA allocated codes was being used for something else, there would be endless legal battles everywhere!
Imagining the below legal battle scenarios from Indian carriers:

Between erstwhile Air Sahara (IATA S2) and Indian Railways for using S2 on their coaches, and likewise current Star Air (IATA S5) and Indian Railways
Between erstwhile Indian Airlines (IATA IC) and German Rail DB for using IC (Inter City) on their trains!
Between Spicejet (IATA SG) and Singapore Govt for using SG
Between erstwhile Vistara (IATA UK) and the UK Govt for using UK
Between erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines (IATA IT) and Income Tax Dept for using IT

The list is endless!

[DigitalOne]

Originally Posted by Bluengel180

The reviewers were having a field day pronouncing the BE 6E as "Be sexy" which I'm sure the general public would have too.

True. This is what I had written earlier in this thread. Indigo has cleverly used their IATA call sign (did Indigo ask IAT for this call sign ?) and innovatively made it part of their marketing, subtly implying 'sexiness' of their airline and services. So, I believe they have valid grounds against M&M.

Originally Posted by DigitalOne

I also believe Indigo has a valid argument. "6E" is a term, to indicate 'sexy', invented by Indigo and thus there is an intellectual property associated to it. In other words, before Indigo started trademarking and using it there is no record of the term '6E' being used to denote 'sexy'.

[Tanmay007]

Mahindra should not have backed down on this. I a fan of the "be sexy" word play, the naming was consistent with the 9e. Now to make it sound like a part of a series, they will also have to change the XEV 9e to XEV 9.

[Hayek]

Wonder what will happen if BYD now sues Mahindra for calling this car the B E6. The E6 trade mark has actually been used by BYD for cars. If the BE6e violates Indigo’s trademark, don’t see how the BE6 does not violate BYD’s trademark. The only difference is that Indigo is an Indian company while BYD is Chinese!

[saket77]

Originally Posted by DigitalOne

In other words, before Indigo started trademarking and using it there is no record of the term '6E' being used to denote 'sexy'.

Ask the erstwhile smart kids from our school days. I was in Class-6, section E.

[ToThePoint]

Originally Posted by Venkatesh

Official statement

Attachment 2693899

LOL... So now they going to contest based on Tata case and not merit of their case! You didn't sue them, you sued me; you settled with them, you not settling with me bla bla

I am pretty sure this "official" statement has been formulated by reading this team-bhp thread and reading about the Tata case and other ideas mentioned

Instead of pursuing this case, change your PR and Jyotish teams Mahindra!

[Raghuwire]

To be fair. Indigo did Mahindra a favour. BE 6 is better than BE 6e. I was never a fan of the oo instead of 00 at end of their vehicle names and now another alphabet after numbers.
The only names I like from their current stable are Thar and Bolero. In the past Marshall, Verito were good.

[GeeTee TSI]

Good riddance to the silly convoluted name desperately trying to be cool. Thank you, Indigo!

[v.anand]

If '6e' meant Sexy, then '9e' means Nanny. What is Mahindra marketing department thinking? How can people be driving around in Sexy and Nanny named cars?

Wonderful products with terrible names for India's genuine entry into global car space. Please change the names altogether and see how they fly out of the production line.

[Asish_VK]

What did the 'e' stand for anyway ? Just for making the name as "Be Sexy" ?

If that was the case, what is the current name ? "Be Sex" ?

[lemedico]

Originally Posted by v.anand

If '6e' meant Sexy, then '9e' means Nanny. What is Mahindra marketing department thinking? How can people be driving around in Sexy and Nanny named cars?

Wonderful products with terrible names for India's genuine entry into global car space. Please change the names altogether and see how they fly out of the production line.

I'm sure this is an Elon Musk inspired quirk, like his four Tesla car models are literally known to spell out S-3-X-Y