Tata Says No to Imitation, Protects Nano with 37 Patents

Tata Nano, also referred to as the cheapest car in the world, is going to be on the expensive side for its parent company as the Indian manufacturers puts all its hopes in this new model. The company has already applied for patent protection for more than 37 technologies used or related to Nano, Just-auto.com informs today, as a result of the company's main intention to protect this particular model from imitations or copies.

The Economic Times wrote today that Tata Motors is also aiming to protect the model overseas with new patents. Tata Nano will go on sale in the domestic market later this month while the official launch in overseas markets is expected to take place in 2011.

A company spokesman told the aforementioned newspaper that most of the 37 Nano patents were filed even before 2007, prior to the first public showing at the Auto Expo in January 2008 in New Delhi India.

"As far as the Tata Nano is concerned, 37 inventions have been filed for patent protection so far to cover all the innovations in the car. We are also considering filing IPs on Nano in overseas locations at an appropriate time... Most of the patent applications filed before 2007 have already been granted," he said.

In addition, the company expects to receive the green light for the remaining patents in the near future, with overseas patents to depend on a number of factors.

"Further, nearly one-fifth of the patent applications are in the process of getting protection in other countries based on the marketing portfolio, scope of invention and costs involved in protection and enforcement."