Don't use the phrase 'Nation Wants to know': Arnab Goswami gets legal notice

If there was a copyright on the phrase "Nation Wants to Know", who would you think it would belong to?

 

If the first name that comes to you is Arnab Goswami, apparently a "top media house" wants to contest that claim. (We wonder who that is).

 

In an audio message posted on social media on Monday, Goswami said that he had been threatened with imprisonment by a media group if he were to ever use that phrase on TV.

 

The channel, according to Goswami, sent him a six-page long legal notice. The phrase 'Nation Wants to Know' was popularised by Arnab Goswami through his flagship show 'The Newshour' on Times Now.

 

But that's not the full story.

 

BCCL (Times Group) did confirm that they had sent a legal notice to Republic TV. A few months ago Times Now had applied for trademark registration for the phrase. But they decided to send a caution notice to Republic TV when the 'little known media company' applied for the same in January 2017, said a statement from the company. With Republic TV also applying for trademark registration, the caution notice was to inform them that Times Now had first claim, the source said. 

 

However, calling the legal notice a threat, the senior jounalist said, "The threat of imprisonment will not deter me. Bring your moneybags and your lawyers, file the criminal case against me for using the phrase 'Nation Wants to Know'. Do everything you can, spend all the money you have and arrest me. I am waiting right now in my studio floor. Come, enforce your threat."

 

He goes on to explain who the phrase "Nation Want to Know" belong to.

 

"Viewers, the phrase 'Nation Wants to Know' belongs to you, to me, and to all of us, every citizen of this country. It symbolizes what we do, pick up issues for the people, ask, question and seek accountability where it is due. I have used the phrase with pride, in my reporting and on debates for the last 20 years. And I am deeply indebted to each one of you who have found my journalism worthy of representing public interest," he said.

 

Though Times Group has admitted they sent the notice, Goswami surprisingly did not reveal the media group's name, but he did give a hint. "This media group’s aim has been to somehow stall and delay the launch of Republic TV. To somehow try and make sure that a group of journalists determined to pursue the truth on behalf of the people are held back."⁠⁠⁠⁠