Nuns seek Mother Teresa copyright

The Vatican plans to beatify Mother Teresa this year

The order of nuns founded by Mother Teresa has applied for copyright to her name in an attempt to stop its exploitation by commercial interests.

Mother Teresa, regarded by some as a saint for her work among India's poor and expected to be beatified by the Roman Catholic Church later this year, died in 1997.

Her order, the Calcutta-based Missionaries of Charity, has applied to the Indian patents office for copyright to her name as well as that of the order and its logo.

"In her lifetime, Mother Teresa expressed on a number occasions her wish that her name not be used by any other individuals or organisations without her permission, and after her death, the permission of her successor," said Sister Nirmala, the current head of the order.

Many organisations had already responded to the order's request to stop using Mother Teresa's name, Sister Nirmala added.

"We are grateful to all those who have thus far complied with our request to remove the name of Mother Teresa from their organisations' names, such as the Mother Teresa Institute of Management," she said.

Mother Teresa, who was of Albanian origin, died in Calcutta at the age of 87 after a life devoted to care of the poor and sick.

A household name, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Vatican plans to beatify her this October as part of the process of making her a saint.