One year ago, we decided to introduce a Diversity & Inclusivity (“D&I”) Section in our firm for creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are happy to share that in the past one year, our D&I Section has conducted various events for celebrating our diversity and starting a dialogue on issues that matter.

To celebrate the Pride Month and the Section’s one year anniversary, we have planned some interesting events and activities intended to encourage a culture of acceptance and celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community.

We are excited to be a small part of this big colourful celebration.

General IP Interns – Tanya Kanchan Soni and Yashi Agarwal (Final Year Interns); Nabira Farman and Meghana Killampalli (Pre-Final Year Interns) have successfully completed their Internship at ALG. At the end of their internship, they obliged us with their thoughts and ideas during the Sharing of Reflections (SoR) sessions. Their presence enriched the firm while they interned here. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

A ‘Legal Issues Seminar-General IP’ (LIS-GIP) was conducted by Samreen Iboo Sait, Associate, on “Do Internet Streaming Services Fall Under the Ambit of ‘Broadcasting Organization’?”. The seminar explored various provisions and definitions under law that can be interpreted to determine whether internet streaming services can be read into ‘any broadcasting organization’ under Section 31-D of the Copyright Act, 1957, as well as the legislative intent of the amendments. The session specifically delved into how internet streaming services have been intentionally excluded from the amended law and explored relevant judicial decisions in this respect. The session concluded with interesting questions on whether a Music Modernization Act such as in the US can fill the lacuna in the current Indian copyright law or whether the existing law can be stretched out by way of amendments to keep up with technological advancements.

The presentation can be accessed here.

During last week’s Practice Workshop (PWS) Session, Abhilasha Rathore, Associate, led a discussion on “Would Adoption of AI Tools Standardize the Scrutiny of Examination Reports?” The session saw an engaging discussion on the present examination process of trademark applications by the Trade Marks Office, which sometimes leads to inconsistent objections being raised for similar marks. The session delved into whether adoption of AI based tools would standardize the examination of applications and bring uniformity in the scrutiny process. The session concluded with a debate on whether AI based tools would alleviate burden on the Examiners and expedite the examination process.

A ‘Legal Issues Seminar – General IP’ (LIS-GIP) was conducted by Shreya Kunwar, Associate, on ‘Is the Proof of Successful Trap Transactions Sufficient to Invoke the Jurisdiction of a Court?’. The seminar delved into the concept of “trap transactions” or “test orders” in IP disputes and the legitimacy of the same in invoking the jurisdiction of a court. In light of relevant judicial decisions, the discussion explored the various parameters that need to be satisfied before a successful trap transaction can be established before the court. The session concluded with an interesting discussion on the concepts of “purposeful availment” and the nature of commercial transactions for establishing the legitimacy of trap transactions.

The presentation can be accessed here.