Star news anchor Arnab Goswami has announced that the name of his news channel is being changed from ‘Republic’ to ‘Republic TV’.
This comes after BJP MP Subramanian Swamy had recently objected to Goswami’s new digital venture’s title called ‘Republic’, because he pointed out that it was in violation of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use), Act, 1950, which prohibits certain names and symbols from being used for commercial purposes.
In a letter dated January 28, addressed to the Under Secretary to the Govt. of India in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Goswami has mentioned that required documents are being submitted to facilitate the change.
These include: self-certified copy of the acknowledgement slip evidencing the trademark application filed with the Trade Marks Registry in respect of ‘Republic TV’, self-certified coloured copy of the logo of ‘Republic TV’ and fresh affidavits in Form 1A and Form 1B for both uplinking and downlinking applications which now reflect ‘Republic TV’ as the name of the channel.
The letter is signed by Arnab Goswami, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the channel, on behalf of ARG Outlier Media Private Limited.
Swamy had earlier written to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and referred to Item 6 in the Schedule accompanying the Act, which prohibits the use of, “The name, emblem or official seal of the President, Governor, Sadar-i-Riyasat or Republic or Union of India”.
“Hence the grant of a license to a news channel to broadcast under the name of “Republic” will be contrary to law,” Swamy had written, urging the Ministry to investigate the matter.
Arnab had announced the name of his venture on December 15, a month-and-a-half after he resigned from his position of Editor-in-Chief and President, News, of Times Now and ET Now.