IBM and the Gujarat Government have signed an MoU to establish an AI Cluster at Gujarat International Financial Tech City to accelerate AI adoption in the financial sector, using IBM’s Watsonx. This aims to lead AI integration nationwide and drive digital transformation. IBM’s global AI skills commitment aligns with this initiative, offering financial institutions in GIFT City AI Sandbox for model customization, proof of concept support, specialized training, and digital assistant solutions to enhance operations and customer experiences.

The report is accessible here.

Dabur and the YouTuber Dhruv Rathee have reached an amicable settlement in the dispute regarding use of Dabur’s ‘REAL fruit juice’ in a video. The video uploaded by Mr. Rathee used Dabur’s product while providing a general criticism of packaged fruit juices. Dabur filed a case alleging disparagement of its trademark. Finally, the suit was withdrawn upon an agreement to replace all direct references to Dabur’s product with generic packaging, highlighting the prominence of the trademark owner’s rights to protect its trademark from disparagement.

The report is accessible here.

Tata Consultancy Services has been held liable for misappropriation of trade secrets under the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 by the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. It has been ordered to pay a penalty of USD 194 million (Rs. 1600 crores) to Computer Sciences Corporation (now DXC Technology Company) for the same. The Indian giant plans on filing a review petition in the court against the unfavourable order.

The report is accessible here.

The IP Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) has rejected Government of India’s application for the mark BASMATI. The rejection was on the ground that the mark is descriptive and that there are other producers and farmers outside India who should be allowed to use the mark. On the question of acquired distinctiveness, the office noted that the mark BASMATI found on products in New Zealand was from both India and Pakistan and the use of the mark could not be exclusively associated to India.

The report is accessible here.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India issued new directions on June 18, 2024. The directions seek swift removal of unsafe food products from the market to protect consumers. The FSSAI and the State Food and Drug Authorities are to regularly test food samples. If samples are found to be unsafe by the lab results, Food Business Operators are prohibited from selling the food products in question. Further, recalls are required if the appeal to a referral lab affirms the food products unsafe, or when the appeal time elapses.

The report is accessible here.