Du IP Café

It is easy to get caught up in the allure of networking events, flashy conferences, and headline-making activities. Many devote significant time and resources to visibility, ensuring their names are on the latest guest lists and plastered across social media. This can be effective in gaining recognition and nothing against doing it.   However, I believe that the true path to building a lasting legacy lies in focusing on substance over flash. The commitment to understanding the unique needs of our clients and delivering meaningful results defines the firm. We immerse ourselves in the complexities of every case, whether it’s safeguarding intellectual property or navigating intricate corporate disputes.  At the end of the day, the legal landscape is not a popularity contest. The clients who matter most recognize and appreciate the firms that prioritize substance.  In a world full of noise, we choose to make an impact through excellence, not extravagance. ~until next tim...

 In the rapidly evolving landscape of intellectual property rights (IPR), staying ahead of the curve is not just advantageous—it's essential. To equip students and aspiring legal professionals with the knowledge and skills they need in this dynamic field, Dr. D.Y. Patil Law College, Pimpri, Pune, in association with MakeIntern and the E-Cell of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, recently organized a power-packed three-day training program that delved deep into the intricacies of Intellectual Property. I had the privilege of contributing to the program's success wherein shared I got to share practical knowledge making the sessions engaging and relevant. The program was designed to be intensive, spanning 18 hours over three days. It covered a wide range of topics, from Patents Law to Trade Marks Law, Trade Secrets, and beyond. What set this program apart was its commitment to providing practical insights, ensuring that participants left with not just theoretical knowledge...

Past few years especially the last decade has seen unfathomable changes in the technology landscape. Suddenly, everything has started to become a near possibility. Technology is and will continue playing a significant role in the future of work which is evident with the widespread use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation and other relevant technologies. With the ever rising population all across the globe and the advent of technology, the fear has started to scale in almost everyone's mind that the machines are going to consume the jobs. The advent of technology has caused shifts in the types of jobs that are available, as well as changes in the way that work is organized and performed. For example, remote work and flexible work arrangements have become more common. At this juncture, it is difficult to predict the future of work with certainty, as there are many factors that can influence the direction of the workplace. The future of work is likely to be char...

The title certainly looks catchy but hold on and read further.. The so called IP practitioners who don't have an iota of understanding of IP Laws have flooded the market and dooming Applicants. Once they manage to file applications somehow, they have no clue how to prosecute further and take it till the registration stage. Applicants become stuck and have nowhere to go under such circumstance as they have already paid for the entire process.   Recently, one such Practitioner got stuck with Section 9(1) objection under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and also had to file TM-M and had no clue what to with TM-M and how the objections are tackled or responded with.  Someone is trying to disrupt the market with provisional patent filing in just Rs. 2000/-. How low can it get, I keep on wondering. Filing a provisional patent application seems a joke for such practitioners as they do not care about inventors and how these inventors hold their inventions close to their heart. Some Pate...

Trade Marks registration process in India has seen enormous changes in past 2-3 years. The number of Forms have been reduced from 64 to 8. The examination time has reduced from 2 years to 5 working days - believe it or not but its true and one of the fastest all over the world!   However, the change in law or rules has not impacted some common misconceptions that are prevalent among business owners about the Trade Marks. Thought it would be good to address them here: 1. I don't need to perform search..My Trade Mark is Original in toto Applicants commonly believe that the trade name they thought is distinctive enough and don't see any need to get a search done or to get an opinion from a practitioner. Let me say something unpleasant that the name you want to trademark probably isn’t as original as you think it is, at least not in the eyes of the Trade Marks Registry. Every year, thousands of trademark applications are rejected without refunds because they too closely resembl...

Copyright comes with a bundle of rights in India. Even though the registration of Copyright isn't mandatory, it serves as a proof of ownership and/or prima facie evidence before the Court of law during enforcement of such Copyright.  Lot many changes (pleasant changes) in functioning of Copyright registry have been observed in past five years. Digitization of records and process has been on top of all changes.  The Government of India has recently released the Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2021 on 30th March 2021. The primary objective of such an amendment is to bring the existing rules in parity with other relevant legislations and at par with technological advancements. Sharing only relevant highlights of the amendment and its effects as below:- 1. Changes concerning the filing of applications for registration of Software Program Copyright: Earlier the Copyright Rules mandated submission of the entire Source Code and Object Code while filing an application for registration of...