Writers’ Victory – Kunal Kohli Loses “Phir Se”

The Supreme Court has proved in a landmark ruling that writers need no longer cower in fear in the face of large production houses. The Apex Court has ruled in favor of scriptwriter Jyoti Kapoor and has found that director/producer Kunal Kohli’s upcoming film “Phir Se” shares similarities with Ms. Kapoor’s script “R.S.V.P”.

Ms. Kapoor conceptualized and came up with the plot sometime in 2010.  She registered the synopsis of R.S.V.P with the Film Writers Association (FWA) in Mumbai in 2011. The final draft was registered in 2012.  Ms. Kapoor approached Mr. Kohli through an agent and emailed the script to him thereafter. However, they could not come to an agreement and thus negotiations failed. Subsequently, Ms. Kapoor approached another production house and entered a formal agreement with them. At this time she came across the film “Phir Se” and realized there were strong similarities between her script and the storyline of the film. Accordingly, she filed a complaint with the Film Writers Association for plagiarism and infringement of copyright.

The Bombay High Court ruled in favor of Ms. Kapoor in 2015. It analysed storylines of both the film and the script and found that the individual elements in Ms. Kapoor’s script were not original but together they made a unique story. The Court concluded that Mr. Kohli had used information that was shared privately with him. The Court decided damages would be insufficient as the screenplay was unpublished and thus, granted an interim order against Mr. Kohli preventing him from releasing the film.

Ms. Kapoor moved the Apex Court when the Bombay High Court vacated the stay in return for a guarantee of Rs. 50 Lakhs. The Supreme Court ruled in Ms. Kapoor’s favor and has directed Mr. Kohi to pay Rs. 25 Lakhs as compensation in addition to giving the credit to Ms. Kapoor for the idea.

- Nayanika Singhal 

Importance of Trade Mark Registration in the Retail Sector

With the advent of globalization and expansion of trade and industry, protection of intellectual property is essential for any business enterprise. A strong brand acts as a source identifier and is an invaluable asset for the enterprise. In the retail sector, creating and protecting a brand image is an absolute necessity. Apart from creating goodwill, a brand image is vital in aiding the retailer in venturing into new markets.  It is very important for the retailer to choose his brand wisely and take appropriate measures in protecting it. The strongest way to protect a brand is a registered trademark. A trademark may consist of words, letters, symbol, logo, combination of colors, shapes etc. to name a few. A trade mark registration confers upon the owner, the exclusive right to use his brand. Registration also empowers the owner to obtain legal relief in case his trademark is infringed by others. Another important facet of registration is that the owner has the power to assign his goods to others. Even though it isn’t an absolute necessity for owners to apply for trade mark registration, it is highly recommended since the process of enforcing rights becomes much easier and cheaper.

TRADEMARK LAWS IN INDIA

Trademark laws in India
Trademark is a distinct sign which symbolises the value or goodwill associated with the goods and services which can be assessed by the extent to its perception in the public mind with regards to its quality and specific source.
The Trademark Act 1940, was the first statute on Trademark in India later The trade and merchandise Act 1958 was in force which was again revised by the new Trademark Act 1999 governed by Trademark Rules 2002, and this new act is fully compatible with the international standard of TRIPS Agreement. The latest Act of Trademark has implied a check on the unfair business practices.
The purpose of Trademark can be categorized in the following aspects:
Distinguishing one’s good and services from those of another
Indicating origin
Assures quality
Advertising
Goodwill in market
In this competitive world it has become important to establish something unique which can be perceived by the public. Trademark works at an international scale to maintain the equal standards of protection for everyone. Most people believe that registering a business or company name gives them exclusive ownership of that name but that’s a myth, Trademark is a safer way to achieve exclusive right of ownership.
Ankita Upadhyay.

Copyright Registration in India

Copyright subsists in all original pieces of work as soon as it is created. Copyright in India is recognized under the Berne Convention 1886. Copyright registration is beneficial because of the evidentiary value it holds in case the creator in involved in legal proceedings related to his/her work.

Copyright protection in India is governed under the Copyright Act 1957 and and is granted to authors of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and producers of cinematographic films and sound recordings. It is pertinent to note that here is no copyright protection for ideas, procedures, methods of operation or mathematical concepts as such. As per the Copyright Act, the author or creator of the work is the first owner of copyright. An exception to this rule is that, the employer becomes the owner of copyright in circumstances where the employee creates a work in the course of and scope of employment. Copyright also subsists in computer programmes as it falls under the ambit of “literary works” which is protected under the Copyright act.

In India copyright is protected for a period of sixty years from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the author dies. When it comes to original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works the 60 years is calculated from the year following the death of the author. In the case of cinematographic films, sound recordings, photographs, posthumous publications the 60 year period is counted from the date of publication.

The procedure for the registration of Copyright in India is as follows:

· Application for registration is to be made on Form IV.

· Separate applications should be made for registration of each work;

· Each application should be accompanied by the requisite fee

· The Power of Attorney signed by the party and accepted by the advocate should also be enclosed.

Copyright Piracy In Design

With the advent of industrial development and competition in the global scenario the need to protect new and original designs is an absolute necessity. According to Section 2(d) of the Designs Act, 2000 “design” means only the features of shape, configuration, pattern, ornament or composition of lines or colors applied to any article whether in two dimensional or three dimensional or in both forms, by any industrial process or means, whether manual, mechanical or chemical, separate or combined, which in the finished article appeal to and are judged solely by the eye; but does not include any mode or principle of construction or anything which is in substance a mere mechanical device.

Designs which cannot be registered (Section 4 and 5 of the Designs Act, 2000)
 A design which is not new or original.
A design which is not significantly distinguishable from known designs or combination of known designs.
A design, which has been disclosed, to the public anywhere in the world prior to the filing date or the priority date of application.
 A design which comprises or contains scandalous or obscene matter; and
A design which is contrary to public order and morality.

Copyright is defined as the exclusive right to apply a design to any article in any class in which it is registered. The term of this copyright is 10 years and can be extended by 5 years on payment of prescribed fees before the expiry of the previous term. Thus a Copyright in design lasts for maximum 15 years after which it falls under the public domain. Copyright in an industrial design is governed by the Designs Act 2000. If a design is registered under that Act, it is not eligible for protection under the Copyright Act. In case a design which is capable of being registered under the Designs Act, but not so registered, copyright will subsist under the Copyright Act, but it will cease to exist as soon as any article to which the design has been applied has been reproduced more than 50 times by an industrial process by the owner of the copyright or with his license by any other person.

During the existence of Copyright the following acts lead to Copyright Piracy:

    1.  To publish or cause to be published or expose for sale any article covered by the registration to which either the design or any fraudulent or obvious imitation has been applied.

    2.   To apply or cause to be applied the design that is registered to any class of goods covered by the registration, the design or any fraudulent and obvious imitation thereof.

     3.  To import for the purpose of sale any article belonging to the class in which the design has been registered and to which the design or a fraudulent or obvious imitation thereof has been applied.

Remedies

The remedies available against infringement of copyright in design are
1.Injunction (temporary or permanent)
2.Damages or compensation

According to Section 22 of the Act, where a person commits an infringement, he will be liable for every contravention of the section to pay the registered proprietor of the design a sum not exceeding 25 thousand rupees. The total sum recoverable in respect of any one design will not exceed 50 thousand rupees.

If the proprietor elects to bring a suit for recovery of damages for any such contravention and an injunction against the repetition thereof, the infringer is liable to pay such damages as may be awarded and to be restrained by injunction accordingly.

Poulomi Paul

Biopiracy in patents

Bio-piracy as a concept.

Bio piracy is the practice by which ownership of biological products and processes are controlled by the process of patenting. It is essentially viewed as the monopolization of traditional knowledge and biological resources. Bio piracy is also regarded as “double theft” since it not only permits theft of creativity but also grants exclusive rights on the stolen knowledge. India was the first country to raise this vital concern of protection and preservation of traditional knowledge at the World Intellectual Property Rights Organization (WIPO).

Turmeric Case

In the year 1995 patent was granted to University of Mississippi Medical Centre U.S. Patent (5,401,504) on use of Turmeric in Wound Healing. This was an immense blow to Indian’s rich traditional and indigenous knowledge since turmeric has been in use since times immemorial as an anti-parasitic agent, blood purifier, treating common cold apart from being used as an essential ingredient in Indian cuisine. In 1996, The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), India, New Delhi requested the US Patent and Trademarks Office (USPTO) to revoke the patent on the grounds of existing of prior art. The documentary evidence of traditional knowledge proved the extensive use of turmeric in India. The patent was revoked in 1997, after establishing that there was no novelty.

Neem Case

When the European Patent Office revoked the patent granted to Neem, it was considered to be an advance development in the global fight against bio piracy. The EPO reversed its original decision of granting a patent jointly to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and US chemical major W R Grace.

Hence, in the wake of the numerous patent applications filed as in case of turmeric, basmati, neem etc. which are endangering India’s traditional knowledge, it is imperative that India takes a strong stance and does not succumb to the pressures created by the West.

Advantages of Trade Mark Registration

A trade mark generally can be a name or a word or numbers or symbol or a device or a shape of goods or packaging or combination of colours which is being used to identify and distinguish ones goods from those of others.  

It is to be mentioned here that, on the principle of trade mark law the registration of a trade mark is not mandatory but helpful when there is any legally proceedings against any kind of disputes on trademark. Trade mark ownership or legal action against trademark infringement. For a registered trade mark, these are the following benefits:

·         Protects the hard earned goodwill in the business of the proprietor

·         Provides an  right to use the trademark in relation to the goods and services

·         Provides the power to assign/license/transfer the trademark to other for royalty

·         Helps to get legal relief and damages after infringement or misuse of trademark

Registration enables the registered proprietor to sue for infringement of registered trade mark irrespective of the fact whether it is used or not used. Registration confers on the proprietor a monopoly right over the use of the mark. But, proprietary rights in a trade mark acquired by use are superior to rights obtained by registration under the Act.

In practice there is a colossal difference between the protection available to a registered trade mark and an unregistered trade mark.   Following are the benefits available to the registered trademarks:

·         Securing exclusivity

·         Protects the hard earned goodwill in market

·         Geographical coverage

·         Deterring and preventing others

·         Protecting yourself from infringement claim

·         Controlling the use of your brand by others

·         Securing the cooperation of third parties

·         Automatic right to sue before court of law

·         Legal ability to recover damages

Lastly, one of the very important issue is burden of proof – in case of a registered trademark the burden of proof (i.e. whether there lies a infringement or not) would be on the infringer and the owner of the trade mark.  

By: Casurina Chatterjee