Anupam Mittal, the entrepreneur behind Shaadi.com, recently posted on LinkedIn about his experience in Lonavala. While walking around Maganlal Nagar, the very famous place, he noticed something familiar at nearly every stall: the name “Maganlal Chikki.” Maganlal Chikki, an Indian snack, now commands a market estimated at ₹450 crore annually. But the sad part is, the original family who invented this snack makes less than ₹10 crore from it. This is shocking news, but it shows the importance of IP protection.
From Legacy to Left Behind: How the Maganlal Empire Slipped Away
The reason is simple: they never trademarked the name.
In the LinkedIn post, Anupam explained how this single oversight allowed copycats to freely use the “Maganlal” name, benefiting from decades of goodwill, brand value, and consumer trust, without contributing a rupee to product development or marketing.
He shared the information related how this famous snack invented and started. Back in the 1880s, up in the misty hills of Khandala, Bhivrajji Agarwal started offering tired railway workers a simple treat—jaggery and nuts served on teak leaves, straight from the heart. What began as a humble gesture of nourishment was transformed by his son, Maganlal, into a legacy. He shaped the treat into crisp, bite-sized delights—conveniently packaged for train travelers—and gave it a name not born of marketing, but of memory: Chikki.
Also Read: Dabur vs. Patanjali: Toothpaste Packaging Dispute Heads to Trial After Mediation Fails
The Basics of IP Protection for Entrepreneurs & Creators
IP protection, or intellectual property protection, is how you legally protect things you create—like your business name, logo, product ideas, or original content—so others can’t copy or use them without permission. Without it, anyone can imitate your work and make money from your effort. Tools like name registration (trademarks), creative rights (copyright), and invention rights (patents) help secure your work and make your brand harder to steal.
Anupam’s Message to Founders: Build It. But lock it down.
Trademark your name, logo, and product early
Trademark for your brand name, logo, product design, or any unique element sets you apart in the market.
Add “IP Protection” in your pitch deck
Investors don’t just back ideas. They back defensible ideas. Show you’ve thought about protecting what you’re building—slide 9, right after your GTM strategy.
Keep cease-and-desist tools ready
You don’t need to lawyer up every time, but having templates, a friendly IP attorney, and a plan for dealing with infringement is non-negotiable.
Treat branding and legal protection as a package
The best brand is not just memorable; it’s unstealable. Design your visual identity and file your IP in the same sprint. Because viral growth without protection is an open invitation to copycats.
Conclusion
Anupam Mittal reminds us that brand-building isn’t complete without protection. You can pour time, money, and creativity into crafting a great name, logo, and customer experience—but if you don’t legally protect it, someone else can copy it and profit from your hard work. IP isn’t just a formality—it’s a business essential. Trademarks, copyrights, and patents are tools that legally prove ownership and help you defend what you’ve built.
Also Read: List of required documents for patent filing in India