Accessibility

BananaIP's Comments on DPIIT's Draft Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2023

Comments on Draft Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2023 – Submitted by BananaIP’s Patent Attorneys

BananaIP Counsels has recently submitted its comments and suggestions to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) concerning the Proposed Draft Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2023. The comments submitted are detailed below. You may also download an accessible PDF version of the comments here - Detailed Comments and Suggestions on Proposed Amendments to Patents Rules 2003 Detailed Comments and Suggestions: Proposed Draft Amendment Rules, 2023 Submitted to: The Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and…

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Image accompanying blogpost on "Monthly Roundup: Key IP Cases reported in March 2023"

Monthly Roundup: Key IP Cases reported in March 2023

BananaIP Counsels has been following the recent developments in Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, and Designs cases. This monthly roundup provides some insight into the developments made in these cases by various High Courts in India. The month of March saw an interesting mix of intellectual property decisions from courts in India. This post brings to you a list of important decisions relating to Trademarks, Copyrights, Patents, Consumer Protection and Accessibility Laws. We hope that this information helps our readers stay informed…

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Accessibility is Mandatory for Businesses says CCPD

Accessibility is Mandatory for Businesses says CCPD

In a recent recommendation, the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) stated that private establishments such as businesses, societies, associations, and so on are bound by the accessibility requirements under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (the "RPwD Act"). It concluded in a case filed by Mr. Rahul Bajaj, an upcoming IP attorney, against Practo Technologies Private Limited ("Practo") and the Director General of Health Services ("DGHS"). In the case, Mr. Bajaj argued that the Practo application,…

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Image accompanying blogpost on "Accessibility of Intermediary Services to Persons with Disabilities - Proposed Amendments to IT Rules"

Accessibility of Intermediary Services to Persons with Disabilities – Proposed Amendments to IT Rules

A. Background On 6th June, 2022, the Ministry of Electronics and IT,  Government of India, published a press note sharing the Proposed Draft Amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (hereinafter referred to as “IT Rules, 2021”), and sought comments and suggestions from the  stakeholders with respect to the proposed rules. As stated in the press note, two important principles that underlie the proposed amendments are: “The Internet should be Open, Safe &…

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Draft National Policy for Persons with Disabilities – Comments and Suggestions

Draft National Policy for Persons with Disabilities – Comments and Suggestions

Background The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India published a Draft National Policy for Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter referred to as "National Disability Policy" or "Disability Policy") for comments from the general public. The proposed policy is expected to replace the prior policy of 2006, and bring India's policy for persons with disabilities in line with the UNCRPD, the RPwD Act, and other developments in the country. One of…

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Image accompanying blogpost on "Indian IP Office issues Accessibility Guidelines for Persons with Disabilities"

Indian IP Office issues Accessibility Guidelines for Persons with Disabilities

On 4th March, 2022 the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks (O/o CGPDTM) issued Guidelines for Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities to facilitate accessibility and reasonable accommodations for Persons with Disabilities practicing and interacting with IP Offices under O/o CGPDTM with an endeavor to take all possible steps to make its website, facilities, documents, services, systems and processes accessible to every person. The O/o CGPDTM has appointed a nodal officer (disability) to address needs of…

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Image accompanying blogpost on Delhi High Court IPD Rules, 2021

Accessibility in Delhi High Court IP Division Rules, 2021

On 10th December, 2021, the Delhi High Court issued a public notice containing the finalized rules of procedure for its Intellectual Property Rights Division, in exercise of its powers under the Delhi High Court Act, 1966, the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and various intellectual property statutes. The Delhi High Court had published the draft of the 'Delhi High Court Intellectual Property Rights Division Rules, 2021' on 8 October 2021, inviting comments/suggestions from the Bar and other stakeholders from the IP…

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Indian IP Office and Website Accessibility for Persons with Blindness - Order of CCPD

Indian IP Office and Website Accessibility for Persons with Blindness – Order of CCPD

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ("RPwD Act") was enacted with the objective of giving effect to the provisions of the UN Convention of Persons with Disabilities to which India is a member state. The RPwD Act requires Government and private establishments to provide information, communications and documents in formats that are accessible to persons with disabilities. The Act also mandates establishments to provide reasonable accommodations, and states that not providing such accommodations amounts to discrimination. The Rights…

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Indian IP office and Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

Indian IP Office and Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

One of the biggest issues in modern societies is perhaps a growing sense of apathy towards fellow human beings. Intellectual property as a field has not been untouched by this issue. The Marrakesh treaty for instance since it was first put forward, has garnered only 70 signatories till date out of the 190+ member states that form part of the WIPO. This post however does not intend to deal with or question the aforementioned issues themselves but instead seeks to…

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ICCIG 4

Open Science and its Facets – ICCIG 4 at IIM, Ahmedabad

As a part of the Fourth International Conference on Creativity and Innovation at/for/from/with Grassroots [ICCIG 4] at IIM, Ahmedabad, Professor Arul George Scaria organized a session on 'Fostering Open Science.' I was fortunate to participate in the well organized panel discussion and learn from its proceedings. From my knowledge,Professor Arul is the only scholar in India researching on Open Science from the legal perspective. His emperical study driven report on Open Science will be released soon, and his insights about…

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