During the previous PWS session, Richa Pushpam, Trainee Associate, hosted a discussion on “Is creating imitations of existing artworks justifiable for enhancing cultural dialogue and accessibility?” The session commenced with discussion on whether imitations of existing artworks can be legitimately classified as fair use. The members discussed whether legal protections should be adjusted to allow more freedom for imitation artists in the interest of cultural discourse. The session progressed into whether imitations serve as a bridge for underserved communities to engage with iconic artworks. The session concluded with the understanding that imitations of existing artworks may be allowed to enhance cultural dialogue and accessibility, provided it is done with transparency and reasonable checks and balances to appropriately remunerate and protect the rights of the creators of the original artwork.

Intern – Anmol Singh has commenced his General IP Internship with the firm’s law practice.

We hope his stay in the firm during the 4 week period of his internship will be mutually enriching and that the firm and he will learn exciting things from each other!

ALG’s Sheja Ehtesham and Ashwani Balayan will be attending the International Trademark Association (INTA) Leadership Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA from November 12-15. The conference is expected to cover educational sessions on emerging trends in the IP space as well as have sessions that offer opportunities to hone leadership skills.

If you would like to meet in New Orleans, please reach out.

Recently, Samreen Iboo Sait, Senior Associate, PoSH Trainer, and Coordinator for the Diversity & Inclusion section at ALG, led an interactive, offline training on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) at the Workplace. The session was attended by all administrators and attorneys, aiming to build awareness and provide actionable strategies for sexual harassment prevention, handling sensitive situations, and promoting bystander intervention.

The session fostered active participation through activities designed to empower participants with the tools to create a safe workplace. As an organization, ALG champions inclusion, believing that it fosters open dialogue and a true sense of belonging which are both essential to creating and maintaining safe spaces for all.

The highlight of the training was a creative finger and brush painting exercise, where participants were randomly grouped and given limited materials to collaboratively illustrate the firm’s initials: “A,” “L,” and “G.” This exercise encouraged teamwork and innovation, resulting in diverse expressions that reflected ALG’s commitment to a shared and inclusive vision.

A ‘Special Legal Issues Seminar- General IP’ (LIS-GIP) was conducted by Manish Kumar and Naman Keswani, Trainee Associates, on “Year in Review – Notable IP developments: Quarter 1 (January to March)”. The seminar discussed notable judgements from the first quarter of 2024 in the practice areas of trademark, copyright and domain name disputes. The seminar was the first session of the “Year in Review Series” that discusses notable developments in IP law in 2024.