intellectual property rights

Individual inventors and research organizations here may find their patents turning liquid with the imminent entry of Intellectual Ventures, [IV] a controversial company that owns an estimated 20,000 patents and is in the market for as many more as it can lay its hands on. Innovative approach: Intellectual Ventures’ Nathan Myhrvold.The company has already entered into agreements to buy patents ..

FFFI [Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure], a global coalition of more than 80 software companies, associations and developers has declared the 24th of September to be the "World Day Against Software Patents". Five years ago, on 24 September 2003, the European Parliament adopted amendments to limit the scope of patent law and thereby protect small software companies from the harmful e..

Indian government is proposing "India Innovation Act", a legislation to spur innovation and research in India. The Union Minister Mr.Sibal announced at meeting to draft legislation and present it to the government in three months by Ficci (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry). The India Innovation Act is likely to be modeled on the America COMPETES ACT, which focuses on three..

The APEDA Act [Agriculture Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act] had amended for registration of intellectual property and patent rights by APEDA. This amendement would help in protecting India's farm products like basmati rice from patent violations. After the amendment is passed by Parliament, the registration of basmati rice, etc as a geographical indication under the geo..

The Supreme Court suggested that the Centre should consider having an expert member on the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) that reviews decisions of the Indian patent office. The case went to the apex court after the Madras High Court had asked the government to hear an appeal from Swiss pharmaceutical major Novartis against the rejection of a patent for its cancer medicine Glivec, wi..

Chennai, Aug. 26 Ordering decree in favour of a Switzerland firm, Omega S.A., the Madras High court restrained by an order of permanent injunction, the Hyderabad-based Avanti Kopp Electricals and the Chennai-based Sona Electric Corporation from manufacturing and sale of all ranges of switches and other allied/cognate goods so as to pass off their goods as those of the Swiss firm by using the expr..

Patent related and R&D news...

Brain League is organizing a seminar on Intellectual Property and Business Advantage on 25th September, 2008 from 9.00 A.M. to 5.30 P.M. at Hotel Grand Kakatiya, ITC, Hyderabad. The seminar will focus on certain basic and advanced issues relating to intellectual property protection and management for growing business. Seminar sessions will cover topics such as Using IP for business advantage, ..

Mavent Obtains Innovative Technology Patent for Mortgage Compliance Mavent Inc., the leading provider of automated regulatory compliance solutions to the mortgage industry, today announced that it has been awarded a U.S. patent for technology used for compliance with consumer credit regulation. The issuance of the patent--originally drafted nearly a decade ago--is particularly timely given gr..

Microsoft alleges that a rival maker of computer mice has wrongly made use of its patented hardware technologies and refused to license them. In a complaint filed Wednesday with the U.S. International Trade Commission (PDF, 33 pages), Microsoft alleges that Primax Electronics Ltd. of Taiwan is selling computer mice that violate seven of its patents. The complaint seeks to prevent Primax from se..

ACK Media, the owner of Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle comic brands, is planning to launch a general entertainment channel (GEC) as part of its gambit to turn itself into an integrated media company. For funding this initiative, the company may announce an initial public offering (IPO) in the next 12-18 months. A project like this typically requires an investment of around Rs 100 crore. Sami..

Britannia Industries is keeping the channel open for negotiations with Groupe Danone for getting back the intellectual property rights (IPR) of the Tiger brand. Britannia has filed cases in Singapore and Malaysia against Groupe Danone for unauthorised use of Tiger brand by the latter’s subsidiary Generale Biscuit last year. Speaking on the sidelines of Britannia’s AGM here on Monday, Britannia..

The US Patent and Trademark Office is a convenient whipping boy for problems with the patent system. The USPTO famously approved the junk patents at the heart of the legal battle between Research in Motion and a patent-trolling firm called NTP. The USPTO belatedly recognized its mistake and began invalidating the patents, but didn't finish the job in time to save RIM from being forced to pay $612...

The onus is on you to prove your cyber innocence. If someone has used your email or computer to send any illegal communication, then the laws of the country put you in a bit of a spot. As the recent episode of the email sent by terrorists from a stolen IP address has brought out, the Information Act coupled with other legal provisions make you liable for any illegal activity occurring from you..

Britannia Industries Chairman Nusli Wadia today expressed hope that the Intellectual Property Rights issue with Groupe Danone subsidiary Generale Biscuit would soon be amicably resolved. Wadia was speaking at the company's 89th annual general meeting here. Britannia had initiated legal proceedings in Singapore and Malaysia last year against alleged unauthorised use of its 'Tiger' brand by ..