The World Intellectual Property Organization (“WIPO”) has added India’s national collection of over 2 million Trademark records and over 58,000 Design records to the WIPO Global Brand Database and WIPO Global Design Database, respectively. This addition takes the total number of national/regional collections whose data is now freely available in the Global Brand Database to 64 and the Global Design Database to 31.

Source: https://www.wipo.int/reference/en/branddb/news/2020/news_0010.html; https://www.wipo.int/reference/en/designdb/news/2020/news_0009.html

The Central Government has notified and published the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2020 on October 20, 2020 which further amend the Patents Rules, 2003. The scope of amendment extends to changes in Rule 21, Rule 131(2) and The Second Schedule (Form 27) of the Patents Rules, 2003.

Source: http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/222589.pdf

The Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually launched the “KAPILA” (Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness) campaign on October 15, 2020. The aim of this campaign is to spread awareness through educational programs about the importance of patenting an invention, to lead India towards self-reliance. Under this campaign, students pursuing education in higher educational institutions will get information about the correct system of application process for patenting their invention.

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1664883

Sikkim’s North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited has been granted the Geographical Indication registration for ‘Dalle Khusrani’, which is the local name of a red cherry pepper chilli grown in Sikkim. The Scoville score for this chilli is rated in the range of 100,000 to 350 000 SHU (Scovelle Heat Units), making it one of the hottest chilies in the world.

Source: http://ipindia.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/IPOJournal/1_4826_1/Journal_127.pdf

Overriding its earlier notification dated February 24, 2020[1] Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) vide order dated September 25, 2020[2] issued fresh directions regarding display of ‘Date of Manufacture’ and ‘Best Before Date’ of non-packaged/ loose sweets, container /tray holding sweets at the outlet for sale. According to the latest order, they have mandated the display of “Best Before Date” and simultaneously relaxed the compliances imposed on displaying the ‘Date of Manufacture’ making it voluntary and not binding, with effect from October 01, 2020.

Source: https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2020/02/5e53d8889957fOrder_Direction_Manufacturing_Date_BestBefore_24_02_2020.pdf; https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2020/09/5f6ddbe03942eOrder_Direction_Date_Sweets_25_09_2020.pdf