Raja Selvam

The H Device of HERMES International has been declared a well-known trademark by the Delhi High Court

In a trademark infringement suit filed by Hermes International, one of the prayers by HERMES is that the mark of Hermes is declared as a well-known trademark within the meaning of Section 2(1)(zg) of The Trade Marks Act, 1999. The Trade Marks law sets out five factors which are to be taken into…


Empire strikes again - Indian Trademark Office issues notice regarding non filing of reply to examination report & counter statement to oppositions

If one may recall, on April 1, 2016, the Indian Trademark Office abandoned 1,66,771 Trademark Applications on the ground that the reply to the examination report had not been filed within 30 days. As you would have rightly guessed, the Delhi High Court granted a stay on the orders of the TMO.…


Delhi High Court Rules in Favour of Microsoft Corporation in 12-Year Copyright Infringement Case, Grants Permanent Injunction and Awards Damages

Microsoft discovered that the defendants were illegally using its software products, including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, and Windows Server. Upon investigation, it was found that the defendants had 130 computer systems, most of which had Microsoft's software installed on them, but the…


Indian Designs Office introduces e-filing of digitally signed forms & documents

In a welcome move the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks by public notice dated December 16, 2022 eliminated the mandatory requirement of filing physical copies of the forms for filing a design application in India. As a result, the forms and documents related to design…


Court comes to the rescue of patent applicants - Extensions of deadlines in exceptional circumstances.

As patent lawyers, meeting deadlines can be crucial to the success of a patent application. Two of the most important deadlines one needs to be aware of while prosecuting patent applications in India are the deadline for filing a request for examination and the deadline for filing a response to the…


Adobe wins permanent injunction and significant damages against cyber squatter

The Delhi High Court’s ruling in the case of Adobe Inc. v. Namase Patel and Ors. serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting trademarks and intellectual property rights on the internet. In this case, the court granted a permanent injunction in favour of the Plaintiff. The Court recognised…


Subsequent trade mark owner can claim 'date of first use' of its predecessor

The Bombay High Court ruled in favour of the plaintiff, Pidilite Industries Ltd., who had filed a trademark infringement suit against the defendant for using the mark R-SEAL, which was allegedly similar to the plaintiff's registered mark M-SEAL. The Court found that the defendant had obtained the…


Practice what you preach, especially if you’re an IP Lawyer

In an interesting turn of events, the Delhi High Court in Sujatha Chaudhri Vs Swarupa Ghosh ruled in favour of Sujata Chaudhri of Sujata Chaudhri IP Attorneys in a trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and passing off suit restricting another intellectual property lawyer Swarupa Ghosh…


Delhi High Court decides on the appropriate jurisdiction (HC) for appeals against the orders of the Patent Office

The Delhi High Court in the matters of Dr. Reddys Laboratories Limited & Anr. Vs. The Controller of Patents & Ors. C.O. (CONN.IPD-PAT) No. 3/2021 with Thyssenkrupp Rothe Erde Germany GMBH Vs. The Controller of Patents & Anr. C.O. (CONN.IPD-PAT) 1/2022 and Elta Systems Ltd. Vs. The…


Delay in filing Request for Examination due to negligence of legal counsel - Madras High Court orders restoration of the abandoned patent application - India

November 4, 2022: The Madras High Court allowed the two writ petitions filed by the applicant with respect to two patent applications that were deemed abandoned by the Indian Patent Office on account of delay in filing the Request for Examination. In Chandra Sekar Vs. The Controller of Patents and…