Celebrating 20 Years of IP Excellence

The featured image is customised and the words "The EU Trademark reforms" are written on a yellow background. The post is about the recent amendments bought by The EU and the protests regarding the same by India. To know more, please click here.

India protests against The European Union Trademark Reforms

  The IP community is well aware about the major reforms that have been implemented recently by the EU( European Union). The European Trademark law has undergone significant changes since the introduction of the Community Trademark system in 1996. The  recently adopted European Trademark Reforms have brought in substantial changes not only to Community trademarks but also for owners of national trademarks in the EU. India has been protesting without any success, against one such new directive in the area…

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The featured image shows the logo of the football club, Barcelona which is knitted on a wollen material. The psot is about a trademark dispute between FC Barcelona and An American Fashion Company kule. To know more, please click here.

Not a ‘Cule’ decision: FC Barcelona Loses Trademark Fight to Kule

We’ve got some sad news for our FC Barcelona fans. The General Court of the European Union recently ruled against the football club FC Barcelona and in favour of an American fashion company named Kule, affirming a previous decision, that the football club had failed to prove the genuine use of the mark ‘Cule’. For all our non-football fans, ‘Cule’ means a fan or supporter of the FC Barcelona. The issue first came up in 2011, when Kule had…

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pharmaceutical patent x

Sun Pharma’s big win against Cadila healthcare

  Cadila Healthcare is not only a popular name in the pharma industry but also in trademark circle. The people in the trademark fraternity are well aware about the landmark judgment involving Cadila Healthcare, which established the criteria for trade mark passing off action. Last week, the Madras High Court passed an order, i.e. a permanent injunction against Cadila Healthcare, refraining the company from using any similar trademark, as that of  "VENIZ " which belongs to Sun Pharmaceuticals. Sun Pharmaceuticals had  adopted the…

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The featured image depicts the word sony written in big bold letters with it's tagline (make, believe) below it. The post is about the release of a movie titled "emoji"by Sony and a possible trademark dispute over it. To know more. please click here.

Sony’s use of Emoji: A possible legal dispute

Sony might have to settle a possible trademark as well as copyright dispute with Marco Husges, before it can release an animated film titled “The Emoji ”. Marco Husges, is a game developer and emoji creator who has previously worked on the MMO Shadowbane, Starbreeze Studio’s Enclave and had filed for commercial trademark of the word "emoji" back in 2013. He claims to have trademark merchandising rights over 3000 emojis. The rights over the emoji shouldn’t be confused…

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The featured image shows mickey and minnie mouse standing together with the

Disney and Dalian Engage in Comic Wars

A conflict for the protection of intellectual property right arose recently in China when a Chinese based Infrastructure Company, Wanda Company diversified its business and entered in to a theme based park. It is interesting to note how the conflict arose in this case. The facts are as follows: on the inauguration of the theme park of Wanda Group on 28th May 2016,  few people who were alleged to be workers of the park, were seen clad in Captain America,…

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The featured image shows the top view of the cap of a coca cola bottle. The post is about the registration of "zero" as a trademark by Coca Cola. To know more, please click here.

‘Coca Cola’ Tastes the Feeling of ‘Zero’

After thirteen years of long battle, Coca-Cola Company has finally  been granted registration for the trademark “zero’’ for its zero-calorie drinks, namely Coca-Cola Zero, Sprite Zero and Powerade Zero by the US trademark authorities. The company had been trying to register the trademark “zero” in US since 2003. However, Dr Pepper who sells a diet soda, called Diet Rite Pure Zero, challenged this effort by Coca-Cola in the year 2007 for registration of the word “zero”.  Dr.Pepper argued that “zero”…

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The featured image depicts a peice of paper with the word trademark highlighted and in bold along with other words which are there in the background. this posts relates to trademark objectives enshrined in the IPR policy 2016. to know more click here.

National IPR Policy: Trademark Related Objectives

India approved its first ever Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy on 13th May 2016 with a vision to stimulate creativity and innovation and to promote advancement in science and technology, art and culture, traditional knowledge and biodiversity resources. The policy lays out seven broad objectives and they are as follows: Awareness: outreach and promotion; Generation of IPRs; Legal and legislative framework; Administration and management; Commercialization of IPR; Enforcement…

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The featured image shows the first page of the National IPR Policy document. To read more about the National IPR Policy, click here

NIPR Policy – Action points on Geographical Indications, Trademarks and Designs

The National IPR Policy for India, released on 13th May 2016 outlines seven broad objectives laid down by the policy, as discussed in the earlier posts accessible here and here. This post will focus on the aspects of Geographical Indications, Designs and Trademarks dealt by the new IPR Policy. The policy highlights the lack awareness of IP benefits and rights among possible IPR generators and holders. The Policy addresses the concern that Geographical Indications (GIs) needs to be promoted especially…

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The featured image shows the picture of the generic drug Temazepam. This post is about the new EU trademark law that is causing concern for India. To read more click here.

EU Trademark law threatens Indian Generic Export Market

  The European Parliament and The Council of The European Union recently passed the Regulation (EU) 2015/2424 . The legislation concerns an amendment to the European Union trademark law. The new legislation has India worried as it enlists stringent enforcement provisions that allow customs officials to seize foreign consignments en route to third countries if they contain items with brand names or logos similar to those registered as trademarks in the 28-member nations of the EU block. The specific provisions that…

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