As some of you know, the IPAB has been without a chairman these past two weeks, ever since Justice Basha attained super-annuation in mid May. The Times of India reports:
“Patent and trademark disputes pending for years before the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) will suffer some more delay, as the national body has now been reduced to a headless and a one-member institution.
Its chairman Justice K N Basha attained superannuation on May 13, and the lone technical member (trademarks) has been designated as a temporary vice-chairman. “There are more than 50,000 trademark cases and 10,000-plus patent cases pending here. And, no case can be heard by a single-member bench as per rules,” rue patent attorneys.
The full complement of IPAB is chairman, vice-chairman, technical member (patent), technical member (trademarks) and technical member (who could sit on patent or trademark bench). After Justice Basha’s departure, technical member (trademarks) Sanjeev Kumar Chaswal has been appointed temporary vice-chairman.
Expressing concern over the unfilled vacancies which could have an adverse impact on intellectual property-related issues, the IPR Attorney Association (IPRAA) has written to the Union ministry of commerce and industry to expedite appointments. “It is very important that IPAB remains active at all times,” said IPRAA president P Sanjai Gandhi.”
The grapevine has it that Justice Manmohan Singh of the Delhi High Court is the prime contender for this coveted crown. And if this comes to pass, Singh will indeed be King in the IP world, in more ways than one.
For those in the know, please do keep us informed.
ps: Image from here.
