Guwahati: The process for registration of the new Camouflage Pattern and Design of Improved Combat Uniform to establish ownership of the Indian Army has been completed by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademark, Kolkata, informed officials on Thursday.
The registration was published in the official journal of the Patent Office with Issue No. 42/2022 on October 21, 2022, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Defense.
The new Digital Pattern Combat Uniform for Indian Army personnel was introduced (Army Day) on January 15, 2022.
According to officials, the updated uniform has a modern appearance and practical construction. The fabric is now stronger, lighter and more breathable, dries quickly, and is simpler to maintain. The gender-specific changes for women’s battle uniforms show the peculiarity of the attire.
The Indian Army is currently the exclusive owner of the design’s and camouflage pattern’s exclusive “Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)”. Therefore, production by any vendor who is not authorised to do so is prohibited and may result in legal consequences.
According to the official statement, the Indian Army has the authority to enforce exclusive rights to the design and to bring civil lawsuits for infringement before a court of competent jurisdiction. Damages and temporary and permanent injunctions are available as remedies for infringements.
A total of 50,000 sets have already been purchased through the Canteen Stores Department (CSD) and distributed to 15 CSD Depots as part of the process of introducing the new pattern uniform (Delhi, Leh, BD Bari, Srinagar, Udhampur, Andaman & Nicobar, Jabalpur, Masimpur, Narangi, Dimapur, Bagdogra, Lucknow, Ambala, Mumbai and Khadki).
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Delhi is collaborating with the Ministry of Defence to organise workshops to train civilian and military tailors in sewing the new uniform in accordance with the specified pattern. As part of the individual kit (Life Cycle Concept with a life of 15 months), 11.70 lakh sets are being purchased in bulk and are expected to be distributed to JCOs and OR starting in August 2023.