PepsiCo sues Indian farmers for growing trademarked potatoes

CNN Business reported Thursday that the company is seeking nearly $150,000 each from four Indian farmers accused of growing the spuds, which are exclusively used by the company for its Lays potato chips. Local activists argue that the rural farmers were unaware of the trademark and their legal rights in the matter, and reportedly accused PepsiCo. “PepsiCo is India’s largest process grade potato buyer and amongst the first companies to work with thousands of local farmers to grow a specific protected variety of potatoes for it,” an India-based spokesperson for PepsiCo.

Source: thehill.com