A ‘Legal Issues Seminar’ (LIS) was conducted by Nayantara Malhotra, Senior Associate, on “Do Animals Have Fundamental Rights?”. The seminar touched upon the statutory and constitutional rights available to animals. The session also delved into recent judgements wherein person-hood was granted to animals and fundamental rights of animals were recognized. The session saw several questions from the team including whether the punishments prescribed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 have the requisite deterrent effects.

The presentation can be accessed here.

During last week’s Practice Work Shop (PWS) Session, Sanjukta Kaushik, Trainee Associate, lead a discussion on the role played by Intellectual Property in the preservation and protection of the indigeneity of tribal groups and culture and the need for creating awareness thereon. The session witnessed an engrossing discussion on the relationship between culture and traditions, right to culture and IP, and the scope of IP in according blanket protection to ensure continued authenticity and preservation of culture globally. The session also delved into measures that can be undertaken in the future to balance the competing right of private ownership against collective use of protected IP worldwide.

A ‘Legal Issues Seminar’ (LIS) was conducted by Janaki Arun, Senior Associate, on “Legality of Anti-Suit Injunctions”. The seminar provided insight into the evolution of jurisprudence on anti-suit injunctions, specifically, in IP litigation, and also discussed at length the recent decision which introduced the concept of an anti anti-suit injunction for the first time in India. The session invited interesting questions from the team on the principles of comity and the implications of such injunctions on courts of other countries.

The presentation can be accessed here.

May 17 is celebrated as the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. In line with this year’s World Health Organization [WHO] theme – “Together: Resisting, Supporting, Healing”– we at ALG pledge to celebrate and support sexual and gender diversities. We strongly prohibit all kinds of violations basis sexual orientation or gender identity at ALG and will continue to take steps to make the environment at ALG a safe space for everybody.

We’re in love with the copyright-free posters issued by WHO to celebrate this day and are sharing our favorite one with this post.. Please visit https://may17.org/posters-for-may-17-2021-free-to-use-and-share/ to access the other (equally beautiful) posters.

Lastly, in keeping with the (self-created!) tradition of recommending movies/shows to start a dialogue, we’re here with another one – Schitt’s Creek! Please watch it, and feel your heart fill with warmth and joy.

During last week’s Practice Work Shop (PWS) Session, Aishwarya Pande, Associate, lead a discussion on whether the Intellectual Property Rights regime can be used as a mechanism to promote public interest. The session saw an engaging discussion on whether grant of monopolistic IP rights foster public interest, and whether in promotion of such public interest, the economic rights of individuals would be compromised. The discussion also delved into the role of the IP regime in promoting public interest during the ongoing pandemic.