Trademarks
11th Edition of NICE Classification to come into force in 2017
The World Intellectual Property Organization [WIPO] recently passed a notification in their Gazette dated October 24, 2016 notifying the public that the NICE Classification of goods and services was to be amended and that the eleventh [11th] edition was to come into force in the new year [from…
Punitive Damages denied for Trademark Infringement
In our earlier posts, we have covered the importance of damages in trademark infringement suits and the types of damages as well. The Courts in India have taken a liberal stand while granting nominal and compensatory damages. However, when it comes to punitive damages, the Courts have been…
Financial Times - The never ending trademark battle
The legal battle between The Financial Times Ltd (FTL) and Times Publishing House Ltd (TPHL) over the trademark rights to the term “FINANCIAL TIMES” and “FT” has been going on for over two decades now and continues to do so. This trademark battle in addition to elaborating the hierarchy of Courts…
Infringement of a trademark also depends upon the similarity between the target customers
The criteria for determining trademark infringement primarily depends on two major factors; ie- identity or similarity between the registered trade mark and the infringing mark and the identity or similarity between the goods or services respectively covered by the two marks. In a recent judgement…
Trade dress – A powerful brand element
On account of rising competitiveness in the commercial industry, the importance accorded to trade dress of a product is tremendous. Trade dress relates to the visual or other appearance of a product which includes its packaging, combination of colours, textures, graphics, shape and other composite…
Initiative by IPAB to expedite administrative proceedings
The Intellectual Property Appellate Board ("IPAB") was constituted by the Indian Government on September 15, 2003 to hear and adjudicate appeals against the decisions of the Registrar under the Indian Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the Indian Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and…
Indian Judiciary takes a stand on the concept of Trade Dress
Trade dress relates to the visual or other appearance of a product that may withal include its packaging, combination of colours, textures, graphics, shape which could be registered and protected from being exploited by competitors in connection to their business and service. The purpose of trade…
Recent developments at the Indian Trademarks Office and the road ahead
“Change is the only constant” and mid-way through 2016, we have witnessed some drastic changes brought about in the IP management and regime in India, starting with the bulk abandonment of 1,66,771 trademark applications in March 2016, to the stay order by the Delhi High Court, to the default…
Indian Trademarks Office initiates E-Registration Certificates
The Indian Trademarks Office (TMO) today issued a pragmatic public notice regarding the automation of the entire process of generation and issuance of registration certificates. The notice states that from August 01, 2016 the entire process of generation and dispatch of registration certificates…
“Plain Packaging” a Trademark infringement?
Plain packaging refers to laws or regulations requiring cigarettes and other tobacco products to be sold in standardized or generic packaging, without any stylized or attractive trademarks, logos, brand names or colors. In place of such brand names or logos, the packaging would largely be dominated…