Hyderabad: Osmania University’s iconic Arts College building was officially registered as India’s third trademarked structure on Saturday evening, joining the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel (2017) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The certificate of registration will be handed over to university authorities on Monday.
Constructed between 1934 and 1939 under the patronage of the last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, and designed by Belgian architect Monsieur Jasper, the heritage edifice has been a defining feature of Hyderabad’s academic and aesthetic landscape since its inauguration in 1939.
Trademark agent Subhajit Saha, who filed the application on the university’s behalf, explained that the registration will protect the building’s distinctive façade from “copycat architecture” and prevent unauthorised commercial use of its image. “No third party may now use the Arts College building for marketing or branding without Osmania University’s permission,” he said.
The move follows an international trend — landmarks such as New York’s Empire State Building, France’s Eiffel Tower and Australia’s Sydney Opera House also hold trademark status, granting their owners exclusive rights to reproduce their likeness for commercial purposes.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mir Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of the seventh Nizam, hailed the milestone as “a proud moment for Hyderabad and Telangana,” noting that his grandfather’s vision for world-class education and infrastructure laid the foundation for the city’s growth. “This building stands as a testament to his foresight and to Hyderabad’s emergence as a global hub,” he added.
University officials — including the Vice Chancellor and Registrar — were unavailable for comment.
