Sound Board

Our thoughts and views on the practice of Intellectual Property in India and around the world.

As the digital landscape evolves, the need to hold intermediaries to higher standards of accountability and duty of care has become increasingly pressing. This necessity arises from a growing trend in which intermediaries often overlook instances of infringement occurring on their platforms, to the detriment of the rights owners. With the rapid expansion of online services, intermediaries play a pivotal role and so, it is essential to implement stricter standards and practices that compel them…

While the Madrid Protocol is advantageous, it comes with its own challenges, particularly as each designated country examines the application according to its local laws. India is no exception, and navigating the country's trademark registration process can be complex. To better tackle the common objections faced by the Applicant’s during examination of their international application in India, we have put together some of the most frequent challenges and the most effective strategies to…

India's commitment to conserving its rich biodiversity is reflected in the Biological Diversity Act (BDA) of 2002. This legislation governs the use of biological resources and ensures that benefits arising from their use are shared fairly and equitably. For inventors seeking to patent inventions involving biological resources, the Act mandates obtaining approval from the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). This article explores the key aspects of the BDA, the role of NBA, and the process for…

Goa, with its stunning beaches and lively festivities, has always been a popular destination for weddings and social events. However, a recent circular from the Goa government has stirred up a legal battle regarding copyright laws. This circular aimed to exempt wedding ceremonies and related festivities from the need to secure copyright permissions for musical works, citing the need to support local economic and tourism activities. But, as expected, this move has faced strong backlash from…

In this era of Millennials and Gen Z, Spotify and other music apps seems to be the go-to platform, with everyone tuning in to music. From vibing to popular tracks to setting the trends on Instagram reels, music has been intertwined into everyone’s life so much that even common people are involved in the trends industry. A significant aspect of this trend is the rise of song remixes, which, now accessible to anyone, have also led to an increase in IP infringement issues – particularly copyright…

The petitioner had opposed the trademark applications of Respondent No. 2 for the mark “Travel Fox,” alleging its similarity to Coaster Shoes' own registered mark, TRAVEL FOX. Despite filing the notice of opposition and following due process, the petitioner claimed that the counter statement from the respondent was never served on them, though a copy of the same was uploaded on the website of the Registrar of Trade Marks.

The petitioner, M/s. Tiger Food Ingredients (P) Ltd. (formerly M/s. Manju Chemicals Private Ltd.), filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus to direct the Registrar of Trade Marks to consider their name change application (Form TM-P) dated June 5, 2024. The company's name was changed following a certificate of incorporation issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on January 31, 2024. The name change application was not acted upon by the Trade Marks Registry, prompting the petitioner to…

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 which came into effect recently on August 1, 2024 has garnered significant attention across the country. The Act, having brought amendments to various Acts of our legislation, including those related to Intellectual Property (IP) and media laws among others, primarily aims to decriminalise the provisions – aiming to shift from punitive measures like imprisonment to more lenient penalties such as fines and pecuniary penalties.

Recently, a troubling trend has emerged where scammers are impersonating reputable law firms, pretending to be partners or representatives to defraud individuals and businesses. Their modus operandi involves targeting people with fake "legal notices" sent from email addresses that closely resemble legitimate ones, or through WhatsApp accounts using photos of the firm's partners as display pictures. By employing these deceptive tactics, they falsely accuse individuals or businesses of violating…

In today’s age, brand protection is of utmost importance. Now more than ever, people recognize the value of protecting their brands even beyond the jurisdiction of their home country. While the process of securing trademark protection across multiple countries can appear onerous, the Madrid Protocol streamlines this process. The Madrid Protocol is an international trademark system that enables a trademark to be protected in several countries with a single application. As of date, a trademark…