Pre-Litigation Mediation in Commercial Disputes in India

Alternate methods of dispute resolution are amicable methods of resolving disputes without the intervention of courts. It decreases the burden of the courts and encourages settlement proceedings among the parties. Generally, Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) uses one or more neutral third parties who help the parties to communicate, discuss the differences and resolve the dispute. ADRs are a set of methods that enable individuals and group to maintain cooperation, and social order and provides…

Read More


FLY HIGH vs FLY HIGHER, Delhi High Court Decides Upon Infringement of a mark not being used as a Trademark

The Delhi High Court’s Justice Jyoti Singh vide her order dated October 28, 2022 has vacated an ex-parte ad interim injunction (dated January 21, 2022) against Tata Sia Airlines for using the mark ‘Fly Higher’ in their promotional campaigns. Justice Singh in her order has deliberated the question of whether the registration of the trademark 'Fly High’ by the plaintiff could prevent the defendant from using the phrase 'Fly Higher' in their promotional campaigns.

Read More


Trademark renewal in Pakistan

A trademark in Pakistan can be renewed for a period of 10 years. A request to renew a trademark in Pakistan should be made at any time during 6 months before the expiry of the trademark.

Read More


Maintaining a Trademark in Sri Lanka

A trademark once registered in Sri Lanka, is valid for a period of 10 years from the date of filing of the application or from the date of last renewal, as the case maybe.

Read More


Moment Marketing and its legal implications

The power of the internet, in particular that of social media is humungous. People are constantly tied to their phones, eyeing for any latest news that may spring up, be it in the form of a tweet, a meme or a viral video. So, when used strategically, social media rather becomes one of the most powerful tools of digital marketing. With the evolution of social media, the concept of moment marketing has also become increasingly common. But what exactly is moment marketing? It is marketing in…

Read More


Case Brief: Sun Pharmaceuticals v. Cipla Ltd – IP Infringement or Global Medical Crises?

Recently, the Madras High Court, in the case of Sun Pharmaceuticals (Applicant/Defendant) v Cipla Ltd (Respondent/Plaintiff) refused to vacate the interim injunction against the Applicant. The Plaintiff, Cipla Ltd, was seeking directions against Sun Pharma, claiming that the Defendant was selling medicines under the mark “Respule” which was alleged to be deceptively similar to the marks “Budecort Respules”,“Duolin Respules” and “Respules” of the Plaintiff. Cipla Ltd brought in an action for…

Read More


The much needed check: An order of the Delhi High Court

In a welcome move, the Delhi High Court ordered that trademark applications' whose opposition period would have expired during the suspension period shall stand extended till May 30, 2022. Accordingly, the registration certificates issued during this period will also stand suspended till May 30, 2022.

Read More


Groundless threat of trademark infringement: Is Section 142 a means to combat trademark bullying?

The law of trademarks firmly establishes that a trademark owner reserves the exclusive right to use the trademark and enforce the same. However, there are instances when economically stronger entities or large corporations aggressively secure their intellectual property against, mostly, smaller entities without any justifiable grounds. Through this, the former aims to monopolize the market and kick out any remotely similar business operating under the mark. This is often perceived as a means of…

Read More


Fantasy Sports and Trademarks

Fantasy Sports refers to an area of online gaming wherein participants put together virtual teams composed of proxies of current professional players within a league and play for points and/or money. One of the most glaring problems that trademark owners of high-profile sporting leagues and sports teams face today is the piracy of their trademarks. Innumerable fantasy sport developers have taken advantage of the fans' desire to identify with a popular team, leagues and athletic organisations by…

Read More


The Registrability of Alphabet or Number trademarks in India

The basic purpose of a trademark is that it serves to distinguish the goods or services of one person from those of another. If a mark is not distinctive, it would lead to confusion among consumers between the mark and existing brands present in the market, as well as be unable to distinguish the source/origin of the goods/services. Distinctiveness is an elementary feature of a trademark, and lack of distinctiveness would be a ground for refusal of the trademark. With that in mind, let us…

Read More