ALG’s Managing Partner Sheja Ehtesham has been appointed to serve as Co-Chair of International Trademark Association’s (INTA) “IP in Space” select project team. This one year project will review the cutting-edge subject on how Intellectual property is and could be protected in outer space.

The project team will review current “space” treaties, current IP treaties which might be extended to space, possible new specialized IP treaty proposals, current and possible new national laws which deal with this subject, and enforcement mechanisms such as new IP offices, litigation, and arbitration.

INTA is a a global association of brand owners and professionals whose membership comprises nearly 6,500 organizations from 185 countries. INTA works to foster effective laws and policies worldwide on trademark and related rights. Learn more about INTA at www.inta.org.

A ‘Special Legal Issues Seminar-General IP’ (SLIS-GIP) was conducted by Shilpa Margaret Kurian, Trainee Associate, on ‘Reliefs in IP Cases that are Prematurely Sought versus Those that are Founded Legitimately on Anticipatory-Apprehension’. The seminar delved into the concept of ‘relief’ and the different reliefs provided for under the Specific Relief Act, 1963. Reliance was placed on relevant judicial pronouncements to understand the circumstances under which the courts of law may determine a particular relief being sought by an aggrieved party to be premature or otherwise founded on legitimate anticipatory apprehension. The session concluded with some interesting questions on the scope of reliefs under the Specific Relief Act, 1963 and reliefs provided in the Copyright Act, 1957 and Trade Marks Act, 1999.

The presentation can be accessed here.

During last week’s Practice Work Shop (PWS) Session, Shreya Kunwar, Trainee Associate, led a discussion on whether Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a better mechanism vis-à-vis traditional court systems for resolving IP disputes. The session witnessed an engaging discussion on various types of ADR mechanisms, including Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and the advantages and disadvantages thereof. The session also delved into the extent of digital literacy in India and the need for the requisite infrastructure for conducting ODR smoothly. The session concluded with some interesting exchange of views on whether TM Office disputes can be successfully resolved through ADR mechanisms.

A ‘Special Legal Issues Seminar-General IP’ (SLIS-GIP) was conducted by Harshit Parasher, Trainee Associate, on “Scope of Receivership under C.P.C. Order 40 in IP Law Suits”. The seminar delved into the scope of appointment of a receiver and his powers and rights in civil suits. The seminar specifically looked into the different circumstances under which a receiver can be appointed by the courts of law. The session concluded with an interesting discussion on whether there is a threshold to the actions that may be undertaken by the receiver in discharging his duties and whether at the time of trademarked goods being in the custody of the receiver, if this time could amount to use of trademark.

The presentation can be accessed here.

Patent Interns – Pooja Pal and Aarti Bhagtani (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 the firm and they will learn exciting things from each other!