PhonePe threatens Congress with legal action for using its logo in MP, Congress threatens to mass-uninstall app

Amidst a heated poster war between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) in Madhya Pradesh, digital payments company PhonePe has raised objections to the unauthorised use of its name and logo in the ongoing tussle. It further warned that unauthorized use of its intellectual property rights would result in legal consequences.

In a sharp reaction to PhonePe's objection, Youth Congress has taken the attack on PhonePe. Srinivas BV, the Youth Congress's National President took to Twitter to ask what if lakhs and crores of Indians uninstall the app before uninstalling the BJP from power both at the centre and the state. Following his lead, a number of INC supporters on social media have asked people to uninstall the app

Nov'23 में शिवराज सरकार, May'24 में Modi सरकार तो Uninstall होने ही वाली है,

क्या होगा अगर #PhonePe उसके पहले ही लाखों-करोड़ों Phone से uninstall हो जाये? https://t.co/pZtKJqXYiN

— Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) June 29, 2023

What happened

• PhonePe, India's most valued fintech unicorn, took to Twitter to express its protest after posters featuring Madhya Pradesh's Chief Minister (CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan's face, a QR code, and PhonePe's logo appeared in various cities of the state, including Bhopal, Gwalior, and Budhni (the CM's constituency). The poster read, "50% laao, PhonePe kaam karao" (pay 50% commission to get your work done).

पूरे मध्य प्रदेश में शिवराज के भ्रष्टाचार का पोस्टर लगा है।

पोस्टर पर लिखा है 👇

50% लाओ, फ़ोन पे काम कराओ pic.twitter.com/0eoU8mpJoG

— INC TV (@INC_Television) June 27, 2023

• These posters by the INC were a reaction to earlier posters that targeted the former CM and Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee President Kamal Nath, featuring QR codes and provocative messages.
• On June 23, posters surfaced in Bhopal targeting Kamal Nath, labeling him as "Corruption Nath" and "Wanted." These posters accused Nath of involvement in various scams in the state.

VIDEO | Posters reading 'Wanted Corruption Nath' put up against former CM Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal. pic.twitter.com/vqKmcajEOf

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 23, 2023

• Later on the same day, rival posters targeting Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appeared in several locations in Katni. The INC shared photographs of these posters, which featured the PhonePe logo, on social media, leading the fintech giant to raise objections.

PhonePe objects

• PhonePe, affirming its non-partisan stance, urged the INC to remove its logo from the posters and warned of potential legal action.
• The company clarified that it was not associated with any political campaign or party.

PhonePe objects to the unauthorized usage of its brand logo, by any third party, be it political or non-political. We are not associated with any political campaign or party.

— PhonePe (@PhonePe) June 26, 2023

• Taking to Twitter, PhonePe expressed its objection to the unauthorized use of its brand logo by any third party, regardless of political affiliation, as its logo is a registered trademark.
• In a humble request, PhonePe urged the Indian National Congress (INC) Madhya Pradesh unit to remove all posters and banners featuring their logo.

A police complaint

• In a related development, a BJP worker from Gwalior filed a complaint with the police regarding a poster of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan pasted near the city's railway station. Similar FIRs have been filed in Burhanpur and Chhindwara.
• The complainant alleged defamation of the party's image, leading to a case being registered against an unknown person. The police are currently conducting an investigation.

Madhya Pradesh | | 'PhonePe CM' posters featuring CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan pasted on the walls near Gwalior railway station

A BJP worker has given a complaint that his party is being defamed and based on that a case has been registered against an unknown person and investigation… pic.twitter.com/SOxzrFfFbM

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 29, 2023

Reactions

• MP Home Minister and BJP leader Narottam Mishra criticized the Congress, accusing them of engaging in "dirty politics" by pasting posters to demean the CM.
• Mishra, in a statement to ANI, denied the BJP's involvement in creating or sharing posters targeting Kamal Nath, asserting that the BJP engages in clean politics only.
• He further stated that strict actions would be taken against the culprits, with FIRs registered against them in Burhanpur and Chhindwara.