Trademarks

Recategorization of Patent Applicants and Implementation Barriers to Rule 7(3) of The Patents Rules 

The Patents (Second Amendment) Rules, 2020 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘amendment rules’) that came into force on November 4, 2020, primarily recategorized the Applicants and the fees paid by them for filing and prosecution of a patent. Presently, the amendment has classified applicants into…


Revisiting Copyright law and Artificial Intelligence – Part 1

What is Artificial intelligence? Simply put Artificial intelligence (AI) is non biological intelligence. But what is ‘intelligence’? Well, there is no conclusive answer to the definition of ‘intelligence’ and over the years there is no agreement even among AI researchers on the definition of…


Delhi High Court creates Intellectual Property Division

As you may recall, the Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021 was promulgated by the President of India and notified on April 4, 2021. It amended several acts relating to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), effectively abolished various Boards/Tribunals…


Trademark Clearance Searches for Devices & Shapes in India using Vienna Classification

The Vienna Classification which originated from the Vienna Agreement (1973) is an international classification of the figurative elements of marks (more on the Vienna Agreement and classification can be found here and more on India’s accession to the Vienna agreement could be found here). The first…


Prosecution history estoppel in India - A suit of armour or a double-edged sword?

Introduction Trademarks have over time, distinguished themselves as the popular kids among the Intellectual Property rights. This is so because they are perhaps the most protected amongst the bundle of IP rights and well, inevitably the face of your business. A trademark builds your brand value by…


Branding Due Diligence - Make it or Break it

“Buyers make most decisions by relying on their two-second first impressions based on stored memories, images and feelings.” – Malcolm Gladwell, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking Most of us know intuitively that first impressions are important. We don’t like to think that we judge a…


Indian Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2021

While the country and the entire world is continuing its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, offices and governments across the entire globe have not stopped working and have always ensured the best for its countrymen. Not very long ago, the Indian Designs Office notified the Designs (Amendment)…


Renewal of Customs Recordal in India

In this current age, with counterfeit goods on the rise, measures such as recording one’s intellectual property with the customs authority in order to curb infringement is a necessity. More information regarding the procedure and requirements for recordal with the customs authority are available…


News of the World – Tech platforms and the News industry

The Australian government recently passed legislation that has the potential to completely rework the way in which news is disseminated on the internet. The Australian News Media Bargaining Code, passed by the Australian legislature in February 2021, seeks to mandate that Big Tech companies like…


Pakistan joins the Madrid Protocol

In a major development, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan acceded to the Madrid Protocol on February 24, 2021, making it the 108th member of the Madrid system which now covers 124 countries in total. Pakistan also becomes the fourth SAARC country to join the Madrid Protocol after…