Defamation on social media: Delhi High Court adopts the ‘Single Publication Rule’

/ By / Others

Along with recent calls to decriminalize defamation (here) and to strengthen laws to deal with SLAPP suits, the Delhi High Court (Khawar Butt vs Asif Nazir Mir, Nov, 2013, Justice Vipin Sanghi) recently ruled on a case related to defamation on the internet. In a well researched judgement the court adopted the ‘Single Publication Rule’ and rejected the ‘Multiple Publication Rule’ for libel on the internet. Multiple Publication Rule v. Single Publication Rule Since defamation is an act of harming a persons reputation, […]

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Guest Post: ICANN and a Changing Internet

/ By / Innovation, Overlaps in IP, Privacy, Trademark

Kartik Chawla, a 3rd year student from Nalsar and frequent guest blogger, brings us a clear, in-depth explanation of some of the changes that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is bringing about to the internet, with an emphasis on trademark, security and architectural issues that may arise from these changes. The post is divided into 4 segments. First, the introduction and background to the topic. Secondly, the IP concerns. Third, he looks at Security and Architectural concerns

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Aereo fights back by asserting itself as a Cable Company without Cables(!)

/ By / Copyright, Innovation

Survival instinct prevailed when Aereo recently embraced the US Supreme Court’s ruling which had declared its transmission services illegal in June. Readers may recall that the Court held Aereo’s new-age transmission of TV signal violative of the broadcasters’ public performance rights and, that Aereo was substantially similar to the traditional TV cable system. After ‘pausing’ its services in wake of the judgment, Aereo recently announced that it will now function as a cable company, in lieu of which it will pay

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Indian Budget 2014 – Highlights & Comments

/ By / Innovation, Others, Overlaps in IP

The Union Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley presented the Budget for 2014-15 (“Budget 2014”) yesterday. I intend to highlight the relevant proposals and make some comments in this regard. Kindly note that my comments do not, in any manner, reflect my views on other parts of the budget. A budget is essentially a policy statement of the government. It does reflect its priorities and understanding on various issues. The Budget 2014 puts forward some salubrious proposals. I am, however, inclined to

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SpicyIP Tidbit: Disagreements at the WIPO’s SCCR

/ By / Copyright

The WIPO’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) was for the second time this year held up by disagreements between developed and developing countries. IP-Watch reports that the primary disagreements arose on what recommendations were to be made to the general assembly in September on the protection to be granted to broadcasting organisations or on the establishment of an international regime of exceptions and limitations for libraries and education. The developed nations seemed to want to focus on

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SpicyIP Tidbit: WIPO releases database for economics of IP

/ By / Copyright, Innovation, Others, Patent, Trademark

WIPO recently released a very useful database of academic literature on the economics of IP. In their words, WIPO’s Economics Literature Database provides an overview of key academic literature that has influenced thinking in the field of intellectual property (IP) economics. The Database is an ideal and convenient starting point for researchers, policy-makers, and anyone else interested in the economics of IP. Divided by ‘IP instrument’ as well as by ‘theme’ to make it easily searchable, I for one am

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Ashok Kumar Goes on a Rampage – 219 Websites Ordered Down in the FIFA Broadcast Case

/ By / Copyright

By now, everyone must have heard of the order passed by the Delhi High Court regarding the blocking of websites for allegedly infringing FIFA World Cup content. For those of you who haven’t, Multi Screen Media (MSM) Satellite recently sued in the Delhi High Court alleging that numerous websites have been infringing their exclusive broadcast rights in the FIFA World Cup 2014, and the Delhi High Court through J. Kameswar Rao granted ex parte relief. This post looks to analyse

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SpicyIP Tidbit: India’s DBT and DST Call for Comments on Draft Open Access Policy with Respect to Public Funded Research

/ By / Innovation

India’s Departments of Biotechnology (DBT) and Science and Technology (DST) have come out with a draft policy for ensuring that the output of public funded research is published in a freely accessible platform. The Draft Policy states, “since all funds disbursed by DBT/DST are public funds, it is important that the information and knowledge generated through the use of these funds are made publicly available as soon as possible.” The policy envisages that grantees publish their work in an open access journal, and

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SpicyIP Weekly Review (30th June- 6th July)

/ By / Others

The SpicyIP story of the week is Thomas reporting that India has ratified the Marrakesh Treaty for the Visually Impaired. The treaty aims to increase the access that differently abled people have to copyright protected material. The week began with Aparajita’s announcement that Mr. Ravindra Chingale, a PhD research scholar at NLU-Delhi is carrying out research on Impact of Patent Law on Software in India. You can help him out with his research by filling in questionnaires. We then had

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EC can’t agree on IP norms but can agree on funding-bans for developing countries that don’t follow them?

/ By / Copyright, Innovation

On 1st and 2nd July, the European Commission has put out two significant, yet contradicting IPR related press releases. While the first one talks about possible funding bans for developing countries that ‘violate IPR rules’, the second press release is a perfect example of a major problem with the approach in the first press release! Read on for more: 1. “Strategy for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in third countries” In a 19 page letter, addressed as ‘Communication

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