During last week’s Practice Work Shop (PWS) Session, Shilpa Margaret Kurian, Associate, led a discussion on whether smart contracts can effectively protect original creations in the virtual world. The session saw an engaging discussion on how smart contracts can be used to warn a user attempting to misappropriate the digital creations. The session also delved into the possible terms that may be included in smart contracts, challenges that may erupt with their implementation, and how these challenges may be overcome keeping in mind the rights and interests of creators.

ALG’s Nayantara Malhotra recently moderated a round table discussion on ‘Union Territories’ as part of the larger discussions on the Executive, Legislature And Judiciary, organized by Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Narendra Jadhav at New Maharashtra Sadan, New Delhi. The event involved an engrossing exchange of experiences, anecdotes and diverse views of various young professionals on the three organs of the government. In addition to moderating a discussion, Nayantara also participated in discussions on the role and powers of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, State Governor, Chief Minister, Gram Panchayats, the Judiciary, etc.

A ‘Legal Issues Seminar-General IP’ (LIS-GIP) was conducted by Aishwarya Pande, Associate, on “Does the Test for Determining Infringement of Corporate Name/ Trade Name Differ from That of a Trade Mark?”. The seminar delved into the relevant statutory provisions on infringement of a trademark by virtue of its use as a trade name. The seminar specifically explored the tests for infringement applicable to trade marks and trade/corporate names, and whether these differ from each other. The seminar also saw a discussion on the conditions for infringement under Section 29(5), Trade Marks Act, 1999, and which if not satisfied would provide an alternative recourse under Section 29(4), Trade Marks Act, 1999. The session concluded with interesting questions from the team on the possible remedies available to a registered proprietor against an infringing corporate name and whether a passing off action can be claimed in such cases.

The presentation can be accessed here.

General IP Interns – Shouraseni Chakraborty, Sravani K and Soundarya Rathor (Final Year), and Joanna Joshua and Akrama Javed (Pre-Final Year) have commenced their General IP Internship with the firm’s law practice.

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

Patent Interns – Thaneshwar Chakrawarti and Imran Rizvi (Pre-Final Year) have commenced their Patent Internships with the firm’s law practice. We hope their stay in the firm during the 4 week period of their internship will be mutually enriching and that both the firm and they will learn exciting things from each other!