Editorial Staff

An overview into licensing of trademarks in India

Having written about assignment of trademarks in India in one of my earlier articles, I wanted to write about licensing in India as the two concepts can be confusingly similar to those who need to choose. Apart from pointing out the differences, this article also will comprehensively explain the…


Importance of disclosing status of foreign applications to the Indian Patent Office under Form 3

Section 8 of the Patents Act, 1970 casts an obligation upon the applicant of a patent under this Act who is also prosecuting the same or substantially the same invention outside India, to disclose details regarding corresponding foreign applications from time to time. It was based on the…


5 Trade Secrets I’d kill to know (or get killed if I found out)

The law of intellectual property rights is all pervasive – regardless of the industry, product, service or line of work, there is always something in a business that can be protected under some stream of intellectual property. While protection under IP comes when the person with the knowledge…


Can you lose your trademark even after registration?

Yes you can unless there is proper policing done, you are highly likely to lose your trademark rights. In my previous article I had mentioned how getting your mark registered is just the first step to the long battle ahead because even if your trademark is approved, people can challenge and steal…


Character Merchandising in India – Licenses & Fan Art (Part Two)

In my previous article on character merchandising, I mentioned that all of us have at some point been guilty of buying merchandise of our favorite characters but how many times do we stop to think if it’s actually being licensed from the creators of the work or whether they are just rip offs? Not…


The law on acquiescence: Wake up before it's too late!

Filing an application or obtaining a registration is only the first step to the long battle ahead; because once the mark has been registered, the owner has to be more vigilant in protecting it in this era of "passing off". Here’s the thing, if you come across your mark which someone else is using,…


Character Merchandising in India – Part One

Recently, I came across an exclusive store for Chota Bheem merchandise in Chennai that had every product (towels, bags, footwear and more) one could possibly imagine and I’m sure every child who walked into that store hasn’t left without throwing a tantrum to own one of those products! That really…


Protecting Jewellery Designs in India – Intellectual Property Simplified

At some point in a guy’s life, he just has to buy jewellery! Whether it’s for a girlfriend or partner, going through row after row of earrings, necklaces, rings and other adornments for someone else is one of the inescapable truths of life. Shopping for jewellery has changed a great deal as well -…


Assignment of Trademarks in India

Trademarks like any asset can be transferred from one owner to another. The transfers could be temporary through licensing or permanent through an assignment. Assignment of trademarks is a process in which the owner of the trademark transfers the ownership of the mark either with or without the…


Bombay HC rules on the issue of jurisdiction and cause of action in a Trademark case

The Bombay High Court in the case of Dalmia Cement Bharat Limited v. Ultratech Cement Limited  recently ruled on the issue of cause of action and jurisdiction of Courts in cases of trademark infringement and passing off. The Court discussed various aspects of Section 134 of the Trademarks Act in a…