Wednesday, October 29, 2008

PATENT FOR BHARATMATRIMONY.COM

Bharatmatrimony.com has filed for patent protection for programs like veriprofile and virtual matrimony meet. For more information read the article at this link 

NEW GI IN ANDHRA PRADESH

CII-Andhra Pradesh Technology Development Centre, Hyderabad in Collaboration with Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation have facilitated the grant of Geographical Indications of Nirmal Painitings, Nirmal Furnitures and Leather Puppetry. This is the first hand made paintings, furniture and leather puppets from the state of A.P to be granted a Geographical Indication.

Monday, October 27, 2008

BIKE GANG'S TRADEMARK BANNED

US Department of Justice has effectively seized control of the trade mark of the Mongols motorcycle gang, a picture of a Mongolian warrior wearing sunglasses. The gang appears to have been engaged in violent crime, and at the same time as the injunction banning the use of the trade mark, 79 gang members were indicted. Although the injunction banning the logo originally cracked down on distribution or sale of the logo, it now states that gang members "shall surrender for seizure all products, clothing, vehicles, motorcycles ... or other materials bearing the Mongols trademark, upon presentation of a copy of this order."de mark, 79 gang members were indicted. Although the injunction banning the logo originally cracked down on distribution or sale of the logo, it now states that gang members "shall surrender for seizure all products, clothing, vehicles, motorcycles ... or other materials bearing the Mongols trademark, upon presentation of a copy of this order."

Thursday, October 23, 2008

THE MINT vs. CSE

A copyright battle has ensued between The Mint (newspaper) and CSE or Center for Science and Environment. The Mint has alleged that CSE has reproduced a large number of copyrighted articles of The Mint on www.indiaenvirnomentalportal.org.in. 

These allegations by the mint have been made by its editor on its blog

Sunday, October 19, 2008

GOOGLE THUMBNAILS INFRINGE COPYRIGHTS?

Two German court rulings that Google thumbnail images infringe copyright. Since there is no duty on owners of copyright images to let search engine indexing robots know what files to avoid, the need to avoid infringing copyright rests firmly on Google's shoulders.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

TATA's WIN AWARD

“ TCS' mKrishi has been developed to provide personalised information and expert advice to rural farmers in their local language using sensor technology. It is also adaptable to illiterate farmers to make a query from a cell phone using voice-specific functions.”

The TATA's have gone on to to win the Social Innovation award for this year.

Monday, October 13, 2008

FIGHT OVER ABSOLUT

V& S Vin and Spirit, the proprietor of Absolut have begumn proceedings against Virgin Radio which has been rebranded as Ansolute Radio. 

V & S Vin and Spirit owns the treademark to Absolut vodka and Absolut radio. They claim Virgin Radio is infringing their mark.

Friday, October 10, 2008

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT BY MAJOR NEWSPAPERS

Blogs have become very popular on the Internet. Recent reports show that numerous newspapers are downloading and using photograps which have been clicked by bloggers and put up on blogs. This is a violation of copyright whic is vested with the individuals who got those photographs.

Major papers like Times of India, Hindustan Times along with numerosu local newspapers are guilty of the same. 

But the question arises as to how much protection can the bloggers avail of. To be practical, it is a very diffcult thing to monitor the usage of photographs on Blogs. The newspaper agency has to just ensure that they use a photograph of a blog which is owned by someone in another country. That individual wuld nt even know of the misuse as he doesnt get copies of tthe ppaper at his country. 

Stringent measure are called for to discourage and to prevent the same.

Monday, October 6, 2008

E- FILING OF TRADEMARKS IN FRANCE

The French Trade Mark Office (INPI) has officially launched its e-filing platform this morning athttp://depot-marque.inpi.fr (available in French only). The online filing of French trade mark applications had been tested this summer with several trade mark professionals.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

CSIR TO SET UP HOLDING COMPANY

To monotezie its inventory of patnets, CSIR is planning on setting up a holding company, to whom all patents nealry amounting to 300 would be transferred, to liscence out and sell patents to companies like Intellectual Ventures so as to make the maximum money out of the liscensing and giving out of patents which they hold.

CSIR presently spend a huge amount of money maintaining and filing patents than it earns from the revenues of the patents.

uch a move would increse profit margins and the technology could alos be use to alleviate the conditons of the poor.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

NATONAL INNOVATION ACT, 2008

India has unveiled the National Innovation Act, 2008 . The aim of the act as satated in the preamble is  as follows;

"An Act to facilitate public, private or public- private partnership initiatives for building an Innovation support system to encourage Innovation, evolve a National Integrated Science and Technology Plan and codify and consolidate the law of confidentiality in aid of protecting Confidential Information, trade secrets and Innovation. "

 To access the full act. go to http://dst.gov.in/draftinnovationlaw.pdf