We are extremely pleased to announce that SpicyIP has been named in ManagingIP’s 2014 list of 50 most influential people in IP worldwide! I reproduce their introduction followed by their portion on SpicyIP.
“This is the 12th year we have compiled a list of the 50 most influential people in IP worldwide. Over that time, ideas about influence have changed. It’s no longer the case that IP law and policy is determined by self-important officials sitting in the centres of power, and academics preaching to small audiences. Today, everyone from business leaders to consumers has views on IP use and limits; many people make those views heard loudly; and some of them lead to actual change in laws and commercial strategies.”
“Spicy IP is the leading blog on IP in India, and is particularly noted for bringing unpublished rules and decisions to the public – a vital service given the country’s rapidly developing law and economy. It was founded by academic Shamnad Basheer but now has a team of 14 analysts and fellows, who write in a lively, engaging and immediate style. It also covers some developments outside of India, such as plain packaging.”
The team is of course delighted with this recognition! Other Indian recipients this year include Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Finance and Corporate Affairs (where MIP quotes a strong statement of hers stating that India is clear on what IPR it needs to protect, and if USA is unclear on something, India is willing to openly speak to them about it) and Chaitanya Prasad, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade marks (cited as continuing reforms started by his predecessor PH Kurian, to bring India’s IP Office administrative systems into the 21st century). SpicyIP had also been named in ManagingIP’s 2011 list.
And as we approach our 10 year anniversary mark, we are looking at various ways of exponentially ramping up our offerings.
As Shamnad told LiveLaw:
We’ve come a long way since 2005, when I’d kick started this out of sheer boredom and was the only blogger. We now have a terrific team of 12 bloggers, many of whom are law students…their understanding and appreciation for the nuances of IP continues to amaze me. This recognition from MIP owes itself to their tireless efforts…and to the leadership of Swaraj Barooah, the current editor in Chief. And of course to our regular readers and subscribers who take us to task often and force us to continually up our game in IP reporting and analysis. As we near our tenth anniversary, we’re seriously considering taking SpicyIP to the next level, including registering it as a formal legal entity for the first time, hiring full time people, expanding our operations to include IP training and other allied activities, and possibly even branching out to other countries. It’s a very exciting time for us.”
Thanks to all our readers for their continued support and we look forward to exciting times ahead!
The 2014 list can be seen here, though a subscription/trial is required to view the article.
