Celebrating 20 Years of IP Excellence

This image depicts two dolphins jumping high over the sea with the sunset in the Background. This image is relevant as it deals with TSM test which is the Teaching, Suggestion and Motivation test. Click on the image for more information.

The TSM Test and Non-obviousness

This post was first published on 6th December, 2014.   TSM test is the Teaching, Suggestion and Motivation test. It simply means, when analysing the obviousness of an invention while comparing it with prior art, these are the three questions that have to be asked: Is the prior art quoted instrumental in teaching the reader the method of producing the invention? Does the prior art or any of its contents suggest any method of producing the invention in question? Does the…

Read more

image for Talking Walking Stick - Blind Patents 1

Talking Walking Stick – Blind Patents 1

This post was first published on 19th August, 2014. Every blind person aspires to live a life of independence, a life of freedom and free will, a life free from intrusion, physical and psychological. Some patented inventions have attempted to enhance this very independence, and I will, in my upcoming posts, endeavor to take an unbiased look at some of them. In 1991, Hsieh Chi-Sheng filed a patent for an electronic talking stick for the blind. Before we get into details, one must understand…

Read more

The image depicts a sign "Restricted -18 years and above"

A Peek into the Central Board for Film Certification

This post was first published on 2nd September, 2014.   What is the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)? The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, regulating public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952. Films can be publicly exhibited in India only after they have been certified by the CBFC. What is its constitution? The Board consists of non-official members and a Chairman (all of whom…

Read more

This image depicts a person wearing a black glass. This image is relevant as the post is about Wearable navigation assistance for the vision-impaired. Click on the image for more information

Sense your Surroundings – Patents for the Blind 5

This post was first published on 15th September, 2014.   In my earlier posts (Post1, Post2, Post3, Post4), we discussed the mobility of a visually disabled person that is directly proportional to his awareness of the environment. The more he knows about his surroundings, the easier it gets for him to move around. An issue in achieving this, is the extent of the person's sensory involvement. Most blind people use auditory signals to understand the state of the environment and a navigation device is…

Read more

This Image depicts the Logo of 'Fox News'. This Image is relevant as the article deals with the Fair Use of Copyrighted Material. Click on this Image for more Information.

Clips of Copyrighted Material Constitute FAIR USE!

This post was first published on 19th September, 2014.   In a recent copyright dispute, a New York Court recently held that a database providing for television clips and snippets of transcript constitute fair use, protecting it from allegations of copyright infringement. TVEyes is a company that monitors and records all contents broadcast by more than 1,400 television and radio stations and transforms this content into a searchable database for its subscribers. TVEyes allows its subscribers to use search terms and obtain transcripts and video…

Read more

This image depicts Royal Enfield's Turbo model of Bike. This image is relevant as this is the first ever diesel engine powered bike which does not vibrate. Click on this image for more information

What Makes the World’s First Turbo Diesel Motorcycle Vibration Free?

This post was first published on 25th August, 2014.   Owing to the ever increasing gas prices, fuel efficiency offered by vehicles has become a strong deciding factor among buyers. Diesel bikes are a great benefit for people obsessed with fuel efficiency but unfortunately diesel bikes are currently not offered by any OEMs for the masses. Royal Enfield’s Taurus was the only diesel motorcycle that was in mass production until some time ago. The vibration produced by diesel engines in a motorcycle, jolts the…

Read more

The image has green lines over black background to indicate digital information. The image is relevant as the post is about IP protection of Computer Programs. Click on image to view post.

Intellectual Property Protection for Computer Programs – Part II

This post was first published on 1st September, 2014.   In continuation to the previous post in the series, we shall now be looking into the system of IP protection for computer programs that existed prior to the adoption of Copyright and Patent Laws. Though it can be said that Copyright and Patent Laws are the more popular systems of IP protection for computer programs, it was Trade Secret Law that was initially resorted to for the protection of software, primarily because, previously, computer programs bundled…

Read more

Logo Apple.inc

OSS License Compliance – Source Code Not Enough

  This post was first published on 17th January 2011.   Open Source Software adoption has taken a large stride in 2010. and so did enforcement of OSS licenses. Software Freedom Law Center has been taking the lead by filing suits against GPL violations. Despite the increasing number of OSS suits, none has till date gone the full distance. The cases are generally settled through compliance, withdrawal and/or payment of compensation.The recent withdrawal of an Open Source Software after alleged violation of GNU…

Read more

This Image depicts a seedling is being protected by two hands on it This Image is relevant as the article deals with the Copyrights and protection of ideas. Click on this Image for more Information.

Ideas, Concepts, Scripts & Stories – Protecting Ideas in the Entertainment Industry Part V

This post was first published on 11th August, 2014.   Last week, we discussed the Urmi Juvekar Chiang case.  Today we will look at the case of (1) Mr. Anil Gupta and (2) Another. vs. (1) Mr. Kunal Dasgupta and (2) Others - A landmark case, indeed, in the area of protecting ideas and concepts. This case elucidates the dos and don'ts of Idea Protection and Breach of Confidence in the Entertainment Industry. Plaintiff No. 1 - a Media Consultant Defendant No. 2 - a…

Read more

Start-up

Relevance of IP to Business

This post was first published on 6th August, 2013.   It has been made amply clear in this column earlier that Intellectual Property (IP) can be an important tool for businesses to build, consolidate and grow. Having said that, considering the hype given to the subject, it is easy for a SME to misconstrue its potential and value. So, I wish to start this note by reiterating that IP is only one, among many layers that can form part of a company's…

Read more