The lower house of Indian Parliament has introduced a "surprise" bill that proposes to abolish India’s IP Appellate Board, a move that could have a profound impact for domestic and international trademark owners.
In our latest round-up, we look at Philip Morris International and the US Department of Homeland Security collaborating, Playboy in talks to acquire Lovers, the battle for Birkenstock heating up, and much more.
In a dispute over the use of the word ‘yogi’ for Ayurvedic and herbal preparations, the Bombay High Court has restrained the defendants from using the plaintiff’s YOGI mark on the grounds of trademark infringement and passing off. Read more
The Delhi High Court has issued an injunction preventing a clothing manufacturer from using the acronym ‘UFO’, holding that it was potentially confusing with UFO Contemporary’s long-established mark – although it held that use of the full brand name was permissible. Read more
Viji Malkani, senior legal manager IP rights, brand protection and legal counsel foods at Hindustan Unilever Ltd, reveals how WTR’s Asia-Pacific Team of the Year team has upheld IP integrity in the face of increasing pressures and why educating the younger generation has become part of their work ethos. Read more
In this dispute involving two whisky trademarks, the Delhi High Court issued an ad interim injunction against the defendant. An interesting issue that arose before the court was whether it had territorial jurisdiction to grant such relief. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at a ‘Why Brands Matter’ campaign launching, research revealing the brand risk of data breaches, Authentic Vision planning an expansion, and much more. Read more
We shine the spotlight on some of the biggest challenges facing brands in Asia and reveal what steps WTR’s trademark elite – from Beijing to New Delhi – are taking to overcome them. Read more
With the authorities making a renewed effort to hold the right people accountable for IP infringement, the time is ripe for brand owners and the government to work together to crack down on counterfeiting in the country. Read more
If it can pull off the move, it will be a rare example of a heritage brand that went out of fashion in its original market, only to come back to life decades later. Read more
As gamers around the world readily anticipate the release of Sony’s PlayStation 5 console, media reports suggest that Indian consumers might have to wait a little longer after a third party was discovered to have applied for the PS5 name. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at Deliveroo mulling a 2021 IPO, Royal Mint launching new anti-counterfeiting measures, the EUIPO signing a cooperation agreement with an SME alliance, and much more. Read more
The Delhi High Court granted Times Now’s request for an interim order restraining rival network Republic TV from using the mark NEWSHOUR, but did not interfere with Republic TV’s use of a mark coined by a former Times Now employee. Read more
This decision of the Delhi High Court once again exposes the dangers inherent in the adoption of descriptive marks, including those that are misspellings of descriptive terms. Read more
This order by the Bombay High Court should be welcomed by brand owners, as it reinforces that consumers make purchasing decisions based not only on brand names, but also on the overall visual presentation of the products. Read more
Earlier this year, the Bombay High Court set the trend of hybrid actions involving John Doe infringers, banks and registrars to fight the rise in fake websites. McDonald’s and Amul recently jumped on this trend. Read more
This guest analysis provides insight into the debate over privacy and data in India, the country’s position in comparison with international efforts and what brands need to know about the ever-shifting environment. Read more
India’s newly-formed Central Consumer Protection Authority has issued extensive guidelines designed to regulate advertising and clamp down on misleading claims and practices. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at Glossier securing protection for its pink pouch, Pakistan promoting the use of GIs, China issuing opinions for destroying infringing and counterfeit goods, and much more. Read more
In our latest edition, we look at lawyers decrying ‘dumb’ and ‘gross’ coronavirus vaccine trademarks, the UK police seizing over £7 million in suspected fake goods, and much more. Read more
Filing data at the top Asia-Pacific IP offices reveals a region undergoing spectacular growth, accounting for a colossal 80% of trademark activity worldwide last year. Spearheading the effort is China – a nation with increasing influence over its neighbours, which shows no signs of slowing down. Read more
As the data continues to be updated, we are able to get a better understanding of the extent of the coronavirus’ impact on the trademark ecosystem. Read more
In our latest round-up, we look at more brands overhauling racially-insensitive products in Asia and Australia, MARQUES launching a LGBT and gender survey, Puma and Nike continue to duke it out, and much more. Read more
In our latest edition, we look at fakes markets in China being closed during the coronavirus epidemic, Netflix suffering a blow in ‘choose your own adventure’ dispute, and much more. Read more
WTR crunches the numbers at the leading Asia-Pacific trademark offices to reveal the extent of China’s emergence as a regional superpower, with Alibaba leading the way among both agent and corporate filers at its home registry. Read more
The business opportunities created by the coronavirus pandemic have led many pharmaceutical companies worldwide to file for trademarks containing the word ‘corona’. In India, there are 25 pending applications for such marks in Class 5, all of which were filed between March and June 2020. Read more
In our latest edition, we look at Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream renaming Eskimo Pie, the owner of a Chinese pharmacy chain sentenced to jail for the sale of counterfeit masks, and much more. Read more
In a case involving fake websites registered by an unknown person, the Bombay High Court has considered which reliefs could be granted against domain registrars, banks and INRegistry. Read more
The Delhi High Court has issued an ex parte order restraining US company Brainlink from using the domain name ‘hindustan.com’ and from proceeding further in its declaratory suit against HT Media before a US district court. Read more
In a landmark decision, the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court has set aside a decision preventing Amazon Seller Services, Cloudtail and Snapdeal from selling the goods of direct-selling entities Amway India, Oriflame India and Modicare. Read more
Social media marketing departments are reposting UGC on their own sites often with little or no credit to the original creator, which should ring alarm bells for trademark counsel. Read more
In this dispute over the use of the trademark SUJATA in India, the fact that the plaintiff suppressed and concealed material facts to mislead the court appears to have weighed against it. Read more
In a case involving the use of identical marks for prescription-only medicines and non-prescription products, the Bombay High Court has found that there was a clear case of trademark infringement and passing off. Read more
German multinational company BMW has obtained an ad interim injunction from the Delhi High Court against a local manufacturer of electric rickshaws. Read more
In Chaurang v Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd, the Bombay High Court has rejected an application by the writer, director and producer of the Marathi Bana show for an injunction restraining the defendants from using the words ‘Marathi Bana’ for a television channel. Read more
Although some expected an opposition due to CORONIL misleading the public as a cure for covid-19, the order is the result of another mark claiming priority. Read more
Customs currently does not treat parallel-imported or grey-market goods as prohibited goods unless they are being smuggled or imported outside their original packaging. Read more
An Indian court recently ruled that God's name was registrable as a trademark. We spoke to experts across four key jurisdictions about the different risks brands should be aware of before registering a religious name as a mark. Read more
@WTR_Alerts RT @WTR_Alerts: “I will never give up” – in an exclusive interview, a small business owner in Manilla, Philippines, who is embroiled in a t… Read more