AJINOMOTO - A JAPANESE SEASONING

The Delhi High Court has halted the release of a film titled ‘Ajinomoto’, after a Japan-based seasoning manufacturer claimed infringement of its 113-year-old registered trademark ‘AJI-NO-MOTO’.

Makers of the seasoning also claimed using the word to imply a negative characteristic, as suggested by the filmmakers, “is bound to severely prejudice” against the product.

What is Ajinomoto?

Ajinomoto is the trade name for Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), used as a taste enhancer in food.

The trademark “AJI-NO-MOTO” in Japanese characters was first registered in Japan in the year 1909 and subsequently, in English characters in 1964.

The makers first entered the Indian market in 1954 with its MSG product bearing Plaintiff’s trademark.

Since then, it is a household name in the Indian market and the AJI-NO-MOTO trademark is directly associated with the Japanese manufacturer.

What is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)?

Monosodium glutamate(MSG), also known as sodium glutamate, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid.

MSG is found naturally in some foods including tomatoes and cheese in this glutamic acid form. It is also used in cooking as a flavor enhancer that intensifies the meaty, savory flavor of food.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given MSG a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) designation. It is a popular belief that MSG can cause headaches and other feelings of discomfort, known as “Chinese restaurant syndrome”.

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