SpicyIP Tidbit: Constitutional Challenge to Rule 29(4), Copyright Rules Rejected by the SC

In Next Radio Ltd. & Anr. v Union of India (SLP (C) No. 14373/2022), the Supreme Court (“SC”) has “disposed of as withdrawn”, a challenge to the constitutionality of Rule 29(4), Copyright Rules, 2013. The Petitioners sought permission to withdraw the Special Leave Petition, in light of an order passed by the Delhi HC in March 2024 in Super Cassettes Industries Pvt. Ltd. v Music Broadcast Ltd. (The order of the Delhi HC is discussed below). Rule 29 in Chapter […]

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The Great Flip: Can Opt-Outs be a Permitted Exception? Part II

This post is co-authored with Yogesh Badwal, an incisive student from NLSIU, a SpicyIP member, and, of course, a dear friend. In the previous part, we examined whether the opt-out mechanism, as claimed in Gen-AI litigations, constitutes a prohibited formality for the “enjoyment and exercise” of authors’ rights under Article 5(2) of the Berne Convention. And we argued no. In this post, we address the second question: Can opting out be permitted as an exception under the three-step test outlined

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The Great Flip: Is Opt Out a Prohibited Formality under the Berne Convention? Part I

This post is co-authored with Yogesh Badwal, an incisive student from NLSIU, a SpicyIP member, and, of course, a dear friend. Bonjour, Lately, we’ve been cogitating on this curious concept called the “opt-out”, which has been cropping up with increasing frequency in generative AI litigation, including in India. The EU and the UK are taking the idea seriously and considering giving it statutory teeth. On the surface, it is sold as a middle path, a small price to pay for

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Copyright Strikes? ANI-time! Disappearing Free Speech in the Copyright and Broadcasting World

Of late, private news agency Asian News International (“ANI”) has established its presence in the realm of copyright litigation through its involvement in the OpenAI case (discussed here). The instant case, however, throws open the Pandora’s box, and takes the discussion beyond proprietary rights to Constitutional freedoms. Earlier highlighted by the Reporters’ Collective, and now by a viral video uploaded by YouTuber Mohak Mangal (with more than 6 million views as of 30 May 2025), an aggressive ANI business strategy

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[Part II] ANI v. Open AI – The Storage Paradox is More Than Just Transient!

Following the discussion on non-applicability of ‘derivative work’ theory in the Indian context in light of the ANI v. OpenAI case, in Part of her post, Shama Mahajan argues that the Fair Use defence of incidental or transient storage will be weak against the infringement allegations, given the dynamics of how the data processing and storage work in Gen-AI models. Shama is an LL.M Candidate at National University of Singapore, pursuing her masters in Intellectual Property and Technology Law. ANI

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[Part I] ANI v. Open AI – A Lesson in Resisting the Temptation to Borrow Excessively without Legislative Sanction

In light of the first few issues framed by the Court in ANI v. OpenAI copyright dispute, Shama Mahajan in this two part post discusses the problem of excessive judicial borrowing and fair use defence vis a vis storage. In Part I of the post, she explains non-applicability of ‘derivative work’ theory in the Indian context owing to the lack of its statutory sanction. In Part II of the post, she argues that the Fair Use defence of incidental or

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[Part II] Going Green as a Garnish—A Brief Analyses of Green Trademarks Situation in India and related Ethos

Continuing the discussion on greenwashing, Part II of Dr. Sunanda Bharti’s post will deal with the relevant changes that can be made in the Indian laws to address the issue of greenwashing. Dr. Bharti is a Professor in Law at Delhi University and has written several guest posts for us, which can be viewed here. [Part II] Going Green as a Garnish—A Brief Analyses of Green Trademarks Situation in India and related Ethos By Dr. Sunanda Bharti The author submits that while

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[Part I] Going Green as a Garnish—A Brief Analyses of Green Trademarks Situation in India and Related Ethos

With an increasing number of corporations “going green” with their products, greenwashing seems to be the latest “it” factor for companies to boost their revenue. In this two part post, Dr. Sunanda Bharti explains this phenomenon and suggests ways through which Trademarks Act and other relevant legislations could step in to ensure that the public is not fooled by the blatantly terming their products as “green”. In part I of the post she explains the concepts of greenwashing and green

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Too Much, Yet Too Little: An Examination of Delhi HC’s “Andaz Apna Apna” Interim Order

In an interesting development for all the movie (and IP) buffs, recently the Delhi High Court passed an interim injunction order against unauthorized use and commercial exploitation of character names, traits, and dialogues of the popular Hindi film “Andaaz Apna Apna”. Kartik Sharma takes a look at the order and explains how it, inter alia, fails to take a nuanced view towards personality rights, character merchandising, fair use and more. Kartik is a fourth-year student at the National Law School

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Operationalising India’s Biopiracy Watch List: A Strategic Proposal for Inclusive Global IP Accountability

A few weeks ago, when India was featured in the 2025 USTR Section 301 Priority Watch List, Dr. Anson CJ explored the idea of whether India should come up with its own watch list to monitor biopiracy. Taking that idea forward, Achyuth B Nandan explains why the Biopiracy watchlist is the need of the hour and how it can be implemented in light of India’s Biodiversity Laws. Achyuth is an LLM candidate at Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law,

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