On 15th October, the Supreme Court of India delivered its judgment in Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works v. CIT (judgment available here) on the issue whether the acquisition of trademarks, copyright and technical know-how can be treated as “plant and machinery” so that depreciation/amortization may be claimed on them under Section 32 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Facts of the Case: Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works (MGBW) is a beedi-manufacturing business, which was established in 1940 as a partnership firm. The…

Blast from the Past: To Kill a Mockingbird

by Devika September 19, 2015

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The biggest literary event this year was the release of ‘Go Set a Watchman’, Harper Lee’s much awaited sequel to the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. The author who had shunned all limelight since the publication of her first book has been the subject of much speculation at the hands of literary enthusiasts; Harper Lee, who vowed to never publish a book after her maiden novel, generated a great deal of interest and controversy in the literary world when Lee’s…

Bombay HC Orders YouTube to Remove ‘IIFW Masterclass’ Episodes

by Devika May 16, 2015

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On 21st April, the Bombay HC granted ad-interim injunction relief to Indian Independent Filmmakers Worldwide Association (IIFWA) in a suit for copyright infringement. The suit was filed by IIFWA, a body of independent film-makers formed with the objective of “promoting, supporting and nurturing independent cinema by film-makers of Indian origin anywhere in the world”. The main defendant in the case was YouTube LLC, A Delaware Limited Liability Company operating from California and having corporate offices in Gurgaon and Mumbai. Google…

‘Bombay Velvet’ and ‘Piku’ Secure Anti-Piracy Orders

by Devika May 15, 2015

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Yesterday, the Delhi High Court granted an ad-interim ex-parte injunction to Fox Star Studios India Ltd. and Phanton Films, the producers of the movie ‘Bombay Velvet’. The order which has not yet been uploaded on the website of the Delhi High Court, restrains named defendants and unknown parties (John Does) from “hosting, streaming, making available for viewing, downloading, providing access to… or sharing without authorisation on their website, in any manner, the film Bombay Velvet.” The order directs ISPs to…

One, Two, Three…Out

by Devika May 15, 2015

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The issue regarding liability of internet intermediaries has garnered much interest post Shreya Singhal v. Union of India. Under Indian law, the normal course of action to be followed by an intermediary when unlawful content (such as content violating copyright laws) has been posted online is to remove the impugned content from the website; in certain jurisdictions, in addition to “take-down provisions” we have what is known as the “three strikes” rule, a draconian legislation aimed at pressurizing Internet Service…

Right to be forgotten: A Threat to Freedom of Speech & Expression?

by Devika May 15, 2015

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It has been almost a year since the European Court of Justice ruled that Google must respond to take-down requests by users alleging that search results on Google violate their right to privacy, a case popularly known as the Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) case. The case is one of the many instances where the European Court has upheld the right to privacy of an individual, and while the ruling is an important win for individual rights, the judgment raises…

My Parody, My Mind, My Choice

by Devika April 1, 2015

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So the internet is abuzz with Vogue’s latest ‘My Choice’ video starring Deepika Padukone and while the video has earned its fair share of brickbats, with social commentators such as Shobhaa De finding the video loathsome for its bland take on women empowerment, my curiosity in the matter was roused for a very different reason. It appears that someone among the hoi polloi had made a mash-up of Vogue’s video incorporating bits from Govinda’s famous song ‘Meri Marzi’ titled ‘Rogue…

After IPRS, PPL next to claim that it is not a ‘copyright society’

by Devika March 30, 2015

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Last year, in a letter dated 20th May, Phonographic Performers’ Limited (PPL) withdrew its application for registration as a copyright society under The Copyright Act, 1957. The text of the letter, addressed to The Registrar of Copyrights, stated inter alia that PPL at the time of its inception in 1941 was registered as a ‘private company’ under the Companies Act. The letter also stated that PPL had submitted an application for registration as a copyright society in accordance with sections…

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Applications invited for post of Assistant Professor at IUCIPRS, CUSAT

by Devika March 5, 2015

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Inter University Centre for IPR Studies (IUCIPRS) at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) is inviting applications for the engagement of five Assistant Professors on contractual basis as per UGC scale and norms. There are four posts for candidates with IPR background (open 2; OBC -1 and SC/ST -1) and one post for a candidate with ‘MSc./M.Tech with IPR’ background. This is to set up the IPR Facilitation Cell. The scale of pay is 15,600-39,100 + 6000 AGP. The…

Events Sponsored

SpicyIP Event: The Grand Masters 2015 – In-House Counsel Legal Best Practices Summit

by Devika February 16, 2015

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We’re happy to announce the The Grand Masters 2015! Please note, it will be held in three different cities on three different dates in February. And please also note while registering – SpicyIP readers are entitled to a 30% discount! Details of the summit are below: Have you been facing challenges as an In-House Counsel? Have you been able to build and lead successfully an In-House Team? Have you been able to strike a balance with the External Counsel? Do you have…