Intellectual Property Law (30 Hours)

• General Principles of Intellectual Property Rights
• Nature and Concept of IPR
• WTO / TRIPs
• Brief evolution of IPR and its importance in present context
• Types of Intellectual Property
• Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (Art. 9-39 TRIPs), by various national laws
• Brief on International legal instruments relating to IPR like Paris Convention (1883), Berne Convention (1886), Rome Convention (1961), etc.
• TRIPs: Principal of Reciprocity, Concept of Minimum Standards, and Concept of National Treatment
• Madrid Agreement and Madrid Protocol (1989)
• National IPR Policy (2016)

• Definitions: ‘Mark’ S.2(1)(m); ‘Trade mark’ S.2(1)(zb); ‘Service’ S.2(1)(z); ‘Goods’ S.2(1)(j); ‘Package’ S.2(1)(q); ‘Well known trade mark’ S.2(1)(zg)
• Need for Protection of Trademarks
• Registered and Unregistered Trade Marks
• Use of trade mark in respect of goods / services– Ss.2(2)(b) & (c), 29(6)
• Protection of Domain Names as Trade Marks
• Trade Mark for Services

• Registration of trade mark for goods / services
• Procedure (S.18 -23).
• Grounds of Refusal (S.9 & 11).
• Absolute Grounds for Refusal of Registration: S.9(1).
• Distinctive character in 9(1)(a).
• Eight types of Descriptive, laudatory marks or indications or words in S.9(1)(b).
• Customary or bonafide practices of trade in clause 9(1)(c).
• Proviso to S.9(1) - Acquired Distinctive character.

• Identity or similarity of Marks resulting -- in likelihood of confusion or Association with earlier Mark (Dilution).
• S.11(2) Prohibition of registration even for different goods / services.
• Well-known trade-marks: Factors for determination - 11(6) to 11(9).
• Effect of Trade marks registered or used in good faith – S.11(11).
• Effect of Acquiescence (See S. 33).
• Refusal of registration on grounds of passing off or under law of copyright u/s 11(3).

• Enlargement of Infringement protection – S. 29
• Same, similar or different goods / services
• Difference between passing off and infringement
• Passing off - for similar goods / different goods /trans-border reputation
• Exceptions u/s 30

• Definitions: ‘Geographical Indication’(S.2(e)), ‘Indication’(s.2(g)), ‘Goods’ (S.2(f)), ‘Producer’(S.2(k)), Certification Trade Mark, and Collective Marks
• Concepts of Indication of source, Geographical Indication, Appellations of origin, and GI as a Community Right
• Kinds of GI & Procedure for Registration (Ss. 3-8, Ss. 11-17)
• Grounds for Refusal of Registration of GI’s (S.9)
• Registration of homonymous Geographical Indications (S.10)
• Duration of protection and renewal (Ss.18-19)
• Conflict of GI’s with Trade marks (Ss. 25-26) 

a) Concept of Industrial Design

• Essentials of a Design
• Novelty and Originality
• Protection of functional designs
• Conflicts between Copyright and Design protection
• Statutory right conferred under Designs Act, 2000

b) Registration of Designs

• Registrable Designs and non –registrable designs.
• Procedure for Registration and grant of Certificate of Registration
• Effect of Registration
• Cancellation of a Registered Design



c) Rights granted to 'Design' Holders

• Copyright in Design
• Protections from Piracy
• Protection from fraudulent and obvious imitations