Editorial Staff
Subtitle - Another Movie?
A million droplets make an ocean, similarly a small judgement/order makes a great precedent. This order by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, delivered on 28th September, 2019 pertaining to subtitles in movies, is one such droplet that will potentially open the floodgate for the entertainment and media…
Trademarks – A sanctioned vent for cultural appropriation?
In the recent times we have seen bizarre trademark registrations from names like 'Blue Ivy Carter' to English phrases that are prima facie non-distinctive and could go out of style' (Taylor Swift, we’re looking at you). Imagine not being able to label your lungis, as 'lungi' because a juggernaut…
The Influence of the Influential
Celebrities influence us the deepest. Irrespective of our ‘literacy’, they help us ‘decide’ whether to buy a particular brand or not, through their appearances in advertisements. There is no denial in this. Their influence is profound especially in India. A celebrity endorsing a product or service,…
Draft Model Guidelines on implementation of IPR policy for Academic Institutions
The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DIPP) floated a 23 page model guidelines booklet on the implementation of IPR policies in Academic Institutions, in early September, 2019. In a bout to foster creativity and innovation, the…
The Trademark Office to the rescue; to rectify errors and issue fresh Trademark Registration Certificates.
Trademark holders can finally stop fretting over errors in their trademark registration certificates with the much-welcomed notice by the Indian Trademarks Office dated September 6, 2019. After multiple requests from the Trademark Owners and trademark Counsels troubled with wrong details on the…
An Overview of Standard Essential Patents
If one must buy a mobile in today’s world, one always looks at specifications of the device, the software version, the latest features, etc. But did you know that there is an entire system that dictates the quality and features of technological devices, which everyone in the industry has to……
As Vistara Takes off –Legally
It is of common knowledge that planes fly by taking off, but sometimes they just have to take off in the other sense of the word! Rightfully! Recently, a case was filed by TATA SIA AIRLINES LIMITED (party to the VISTARA joint venture) against PILOT18 AVIATION BOOK STORE when they saw that the…
Infringement & the Essential Feature of a Trademark
The importance of a Trademark and the benefits it confers on a business entity cannot in any manner be overlooked. Through a logo or a symbol, a Trade Mark is inherently capable of conveying a company’s reputation or goodwill on a cursory glance made by an average purchaser. Such being the case,…
Intellectual Property Rights & MSME- Bridging the Gap
Recently the Engineering Export Promotion Council Chairman, Ravi Seghal, emphasized on the need for the adoption of Intellectual Property rights to protect innovative ideas and strategies of Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSME’s) in a highly competitive global economy. His observation…
There’s no such thing as a free lunch (or is there?)
Copyright is a unique animal among the various types of intellectual property. Usually, copyright vests in a work as soon as it is created, and registration of a copyright is not mandatory to obtain some form of legal protection. It is this aspect of copyright that gives rise to various types of…