A Nuanced Trademark Distinction: 29(1) vs 29(2)? – Part II by Eashan Ghosh

(Continued….) Part I is available here. Distinguishing Conditions / Effects The third observation from the outcome table is that the key difference between Sections 29(1) and (2), as the defence in Ajanta hinted at, lies in the further condition / effect required to be met. To be clear, the three conditions / effects in issue are: “use in a manner as to render the mark likely to be taken as being used as a trademark” under Section 29(1); “use in…

Trademark

A Nuanced Trademark Distinction: 29(1) vs 29(2)? – Part I by Eashan Ghosh

by Mathews P. George June 16, 2017

Eashan Ghosh graduated as a gold medalist from NLSIU, Bangalore and with distinction honours from the University of Oxford. He has been in practice as an intellectual property advocate and consultant in New Delhi since 2011, and has taught intellectual property law at NLU Delhi and NLSIU, Bangalore. He has published articles in international journals including the European Intellectual Property Review, World Trademark Review, the Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice and the Queen Mary Journal of Intellectual Property….

Others

SpicyIP in Feedspot’s Top 100 IP blogs

by Mathews P. George June 2, 2017

SpicyIP has been ranked eighth among the world’s top 100 IP blogs by Feedspot. Feedspot is basically an aggregator which helps one to read all the relevant blogs on a particular topic at one place. For instance, if one wants to go through all the relevant blogs on landscaping, Feedspot is the platform for you. We have had quite a few achievements so far like being included in the top 50 by Managing IP, being listed as the 8th most…

Is Copyright Content Neutral? : Prof. Joshua D. Sarnoff Responds to Justice Gautam Patel

by Mathews P. George June 2, 2017

In a post that has now gone almost viral, Justice Gautam Patel reflected on the perplexing issue of whether or not copyright is content neutral. Or whether it can be subject to the filter of legality/morality. He asked a series of thought provoking questions in his post. Prof. Joshua D. Sarnoff, a widely respected professor of law at DePaul University, has now responded to some of the issues raised by Justice Gautam Patel. Prof Sarnoff has written for us earlier…

CCI Order on Pharma Major Roche – III

by Mathews P. George May 3, 2017

CCI Order on Pharma Major Roche – I and CCI Order on Pharma Major Roche – II (Continued…) (ii) Whether or not Roche group tried to influence regulatory authorities so as to deny market access to the Informants? (Paragraphs 66 – 74) The Informants submitted various letters written by the Roche group to regulatory authorities. The Roche group, vide these letters, raised concerns regarding the clinical trials undertaken by the Informants for biosimilars. It tried to create a perception that…

CCI Order on Pharma Major Roche – II

by Mathews P. George May 1, 2017

CCI Order on Pharma Major Roche – I and CCI Order on Pharma Major Roche – III (Continued…) c) Whether or not Roche group holds dominant position within the relevant market? (Paragraphs 52 – 58) Roche Group introduced Trastuzumab under the brand name HERCEPTIN in the year 2002. In the year 2012, it withdrew HERCEPTIN from Indian markets and introduced cheaper versions of Trastuzumab, viz., BICELTIS and HERCLON. As highlighted by the Informants, till February 2014, there was no other…

CCI Order on Pharma Major Roche – I

by Mathews P. George April 29, 2017

Brief background The Competition Commission of India (“CCI”) ordered detailed investigation against Pharma major Roche and its two group firms for alleged anti-Competition Law modus operandi with respect to the cancer drug, Trastuzumab. The regulator’s decision was delivered on information filed by pharmaceutical companies Biocon Limited, Informant No.1 (“IP-1”) and Mylan Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, Informant No. 2 (“IP-2”) wherein they, broadly speaking, alleged violation of Section 4(2) of Competition Act, 2002 (“Abuse of dominant position”). CCI concluded that there is…

SpicyIP Tidbit: CCI Orders Investigation Against Pharma Major Roche

by Mathews P. George April 26, 2017

The Competition Commission of India, based on a positive prima facie determination on contravention of Section 4(2)(c) of the Competition Act, ordered investigation against pharma major Roche with respect to the cancer drug, Trastuzumab. The complaint was filed by Biocon and Mylan Pharmaceuticals. I shall be carrying a detailed analysis shortly. [Section 4. Abuse of Dominant position (1) No enterprise or group shall abuse its dominant position.] (2) There shall be an abuse of dominant position 4 [under sub-section (1),…

“Mann Ki Baat” and Censor Board of Film Certification

by Mathews P. George April 19, 2017

It is reported that the Censor Board of Film Certification (“CBFC”), headed by Pahlaj Nihalani, had asked Dakxin Chhara to scrap the phrase ‘Mann Ki Baat’ from a dialogue in his upcoming thriller titled “Sameer”. Apparently, the sole reason was it being the title of Prime Minister Modi’s monthly radio programme to the nation. I am unable to confirm the veracity of this report. Assuming the veracity of this report, I would like to examine the legality of this fact situation….

The ‘Artist’ who Traversed through Unchartered Territories of Law

by Mathews P. George February 16, 2017