Mathews P. George

Mathews is a graduate of National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata. His interest in intellectual property was kindled when he bagged the second position in his second year of Law School (in the prestigious Nani Palkhiwala Essay Competition on Intellectual Property). His stint as a student of Prof. Shamnad Basheer further accentuated his interest in intellectual property. Winner of almost a dozen essay competitions in his Law School days, he was involved in various research and policy initiatives relating to intellectual property. Mathews is, currently, based out of Munich, Germany. He had earlier done his LLM in 'IP and Competition Law' from Munich Intellectual Property Law Centre (jointly run by Max Plank Institute for Innovation and Competition, University of Augsburg, Technical University of Munich and George Washington University, Washington).

Trademark

YET ANOTHER TROUBLE FOR BRITANNIA

by Mathews P. George January 11, 2011

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ET and other business dailies including Business Standard reported yet another trouble for Britannia. According to news reports, US based Kraft Foods sued Nusli Wadia-owned Britannia industries for trademark infringement of its popular “Oreo” cookies. For more about Oreo cookies see here. The distinctive face of an Oreo cookie In a suit filed in the Delhi High Court, Kraft claimed that Britannia’s recently-introduced “Treat-O” biscuit is a copy of its cream-filled sandwich cookies. According to Kraft, Britannia copied the specific…

Patent office rejects Abbott’s application on HIV drug

by Mathews P. George January 5, 2011

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The Indian Patent office has rejected Abbott’s patent application on its heat-stable version of Lopinavir/Ritonavir drug ( sold under the brand name “Kaletra” ) on grounds including failure to satisfy inventive step. The rejection was in response to pre- grant oppositions filed by I-Mak , Cipla, Okasa Ltd and Matrix Lab Ltd. The decision paves the way for access to life-saving medication for patients across the world, noted Tahir Amin, director of initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK), one…

Event

INTA – Trademark trailblazers – 12th February, 2010

by Mathews P. George December 28, 2010

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Despite the surge in the domestic economy, home grown brands are slow in registering their trademarks overseas and lack robust brand management strategies. It is important to expose Indian brand owners to international trends in trademark law in order for them to better compete with other brands at the global level. At Trademark Trailblazers in India, taking place February 12 in Mumbai, you’ll receive updates on global developments and local trademark issues and learn cutting edge strategies on leveraging a…

Innovation

Guest post – Must law lag behind in innovation? : The need to encourage legal entrepreneurship

by Mathews P. George December 24, 2010

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Ramanuj Mukherjee is a fifth year student of NUJS, Kolkata. He is the founder of iPleaders Legal Risk Management Services which works with start-ups. He blogs at A First Taste of Law . Start-ups are ventures that question the existing business wisdom. Most people create start-ups because of two reasons – they are insomniacs, and they can’t find a place or can’t fit into conventional businesses. Also, usually they are short on cash in the beginning at least. The last…

Event

Indian IP Owner’ Convention

by Mathews P. George December 15, 2010

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Intellectual Property Owners hold a vital stake in driving innovation and promoting intellectual property in a nation’s Innovation ecosystem. IP Owners of India represent a Global Community. From MNCs to Traditional Artisan, it represents a diverse cross section of the society. Confederation Indian Industry (CII) with the support of Intellectual Property office (IPO) India, has undertaken a flagship initiative to constitute “Indian IP Owners’ Forum” for bringing together all the intellectual property owners of our nation on one platform. In…

Trademark

TRAVEL.INDIATIMES v. INDIATIMESTRAVEL – CLASSIC INSTANCE OF CYBER SQUATTING

by Mathews P. George November 23, 2010

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Cybersquatting (also known as domain squatting) is the act of mala fide registering, trafficking in, or using a domain name with the intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else. The term is derived from “squatting,” which is the act of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use. The fact situation in the recent Delhi High Court judgment in Times Internet…

Patenting Lal dant manjan

by Mathews P. George November 4, 2010

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The Association of Manufacturers of Ayurvedic Medicines (Amam), which represents 200 companies including Dabur, Himalaya, Hamdard and Baidyanath, has accused the American personal care giant, Colgate, for patenting red dental herbifice or Lal dant manjan, as it is familiar to us. Economic Times reports that the association sought governmental intervention for revoking the US patent and initiating necessary measures wherever Colgate has applied or been granted patent. The issue acquires significance in the light of growing concerns pertaining to biopiracy…

Trademark

Madrid System & Indian trademark owners – Part II

by Mathews P. George October 22, 2010

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ESSENTIAL CONSIDERATIONS WHILE FRAMING THE TRADEMARK STRATEGY REAL AND EFFECTIVE PRESENCE Madrid System requires both the applicant and assignee to have real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in the office of origin and countries intended to be designated. Hence, Indian trademark owners can take advantage of the System only if it shows real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in member states where protection is sought using the System. The creation of Intellectual Property Holding Companies (IPHC) can…

Trademark

Madrid System & Indian trademark owners – Part I

by Mathews P. George October 22, 2010

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The Trademarks (Amendment) Bill 2009, which aims at bringing Madrid Protocol into force, has been passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. For more see here. However, India is yet to become a member of Madrid Protocol. [For the list of members as on September 17, 2010, see here.] In the light of passage of Bill by both the houses of Parliament and Cabinel approval to accede to the Protocol, India’s entry into the Madrid Protocol is imminent….

Event

WORKSHOP ON INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND IP POLICY

by Mathews P. George October 15, 2010

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After the Bayh Dole Conference last year and the provocative discussions that it engendered, the NUJS IP Chair is collaborating this year with the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property, Competition and Tax Law. A two-day Indo-European dialogue on “Innovation, Creativity and IP Policy”, will be held at NUJS on 19th and 20th November, 2010. The Conference is sponsored by Microsoft India (chief sponsor), K&S Partners and Altacit Global. The Workshop has lined up interesting speakers to take on…

Akshat { At the prima facie stage, even if the documents are on record- without any cross examination, the veracity of any document cannot be made out. In any case,... }
Bhidu { "At the prima facie stage, where evidence ought not to be produced by parties, the reasoning given by the Single Judge requiring Defendant to show “material” in support... }
Swaraj Paul Barooah { Thanks for your kind words Neha! }
Swaraj Paul Barooah { Thank you for your comment and feedback! The length of the articles is becoming a delicate balance between all that we want to include, and trying to ensure... }
Neha Dadheech { This is so far the best way I have learnt about IP.. kudos to the team 👏 }