The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, & Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has issued a Public Notice (dated March 24, 2021) taking cognizance of the Supreme Court’s order (dated March 8, 2021) regarding lifting indefinite extension of limitation period(s) prescribed under the general law of limitation or under any special laws. In cases where the limitation would have expired during the period between 15.03.2020 till 14.03.2021, limitation period of 90 days would commence from 15.03.2021.

Source: https://ipindia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/News/721_1_24.03.2021_Public_Notice.pdf

The Government of India, on April 4, 2021, notified ‘The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021’. The Ordinance has effectively dissolved several appellate bodies, including the Intellectual Property Appellate Board, Airport Appellate Tribunal, etc. and transferred their functions to District and High Courts. The Ordinance also provides for selection, appointment, and tenure of chairpersons and members of existing tribunals.

Source – http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2021/226364.pdf

The Indian Space Research Organization, on behalf of the Department of Space has entered into an MoU with Indian Geospatial Technology Company M/s CE Info Systems Pvt. Ltd. (known for MapmyIndia) on February 11, 2021. The MoU has been entered into with a view to develop a fully indigenous mapping portal and geospatial services in India by combining the MapmyIndia’s digital maps and technologies with ISRO’s catalogue of satellite imagery and earth observation data.

Source:

https://www.meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/Approved%20Social%20Media%20Framework%20and%20Guidelines%20_2_.pdf;https://www.mapmyindia.com/blog/isro-and-mapmyindia-announce-partnership/

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), released its draft guidelines for “Influencer advertising on digital media” for stakeholder consultation in February, 2021. The guidelines are open to feedback until March 21, 2021. Based on the feedback and inputs, the final guidelines are slated to be issued by ASCI by March 31, 2021. The guidelines will be applicable to all promotional posts published on or after April 15, 2021.

Source – https://www.ascionline.org/images/pdf/guidelines-for-influencer-advertising-on-digital-media-draft-for-stakeholder-inputs.pdf

The Government of India, on February 25, 2021, notified the ‘Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021’. The Rules will regulate functioning of internet intermediaries, digital media outlets and streaming platforms. The Rules also aim to provide ordinary users of digital platforms an opportunity to redress their grievances. Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1700749