J D Power may initiate legal action against J K Tyres over the use of its name and logo in advertisements without its prior approval.

J K Tyres had, in a recent advertisement campaign titled "Customer Power wins again" pointed out that it was the highest gainer in the recently concluded JD Power Asia Pacific 2003 study.

J K Tyres had in its advertisement used a media report, which pointed out that it was the highest gainer in the J D Power Asia-Pacific study on the tyre manufacturers.

Though J K had improved its performance in customer ratings, it was arch domestic rival MRF Tyres that has walked away with the honours in the last two years.

Gerrit Willem Kuyntjes, general manager, J D Power Asia Pacific, said J D Power had written to J K Tyres expressing strong disapproval of its recent advertisement campaign. J D Power he said was also in touch with its legal office at its headquarters in California.

"We have strict contractual agreements with subscribers to our study, which also spell out how advertising should be governed. The same rule applies to Indian companies too," Kuyntjes said.

J D Power, Kuyntjes pointed out, allows only the winner of its various surveys to advertise with the J D Power logo and its name.

"We cannot be associated with such kind of advertisements and cannot afford to let it happen. It is a clear violation of the advertisement clause that our subscribers sign when they buy into our reports.

"Moreover the ownership of the content of reports like these are the sole property of J D Power," Namio Hasumi, president and CEO, J D Power Asia Pacific said.

According to J D Power, the press release which it sends announcing the results of its studies every year can be used by subscribing companies only for internal communication or be put up on its website.

"Only the winners of the surveys are allowed the usage of our name and logo," Kuyntjes said.