21st July , 2011
Indian Government announces National Awards for Commercial Patent Holders
The Indian government has launched TREMAP (Technology Refinement and Marketing Programme) to identify the innovative potential of Indian nationals and to encourage the innovators towards developing more practical innovations relevant to the industrial and community requirements. The foremost objective of the award, which carries a sum of Rs. 5.00 Lakhs and a certificate, is to facilitate commercialization of patented technologies.
Selected innovations may be provided a commercialization incentive of Rs. 5.00 Lakhs on commercialization of the awarded patents and some chosen innovations may also use Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council- Technology Commercialization Facilitators (TIFAC-TCF) network for commercialization / transfer / licensing of patented technologies.
Indian nationals, who have patented their technological innovation(s) with commercial potential and have developed a working prototype of the technology/product/process etc. of the innovative technology are eligible for applying for the award. The grant of patent for which the award is sought should not be before the year 2005.
Shah Rukh Khan's tatoo design registered for copyright protection
The 'D' tattoo worn by Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) in his upcoming film Don 2 has been registered for copyright protection against his name. The film's entire range of merchandise like caps, t-shirts and bags will have the same design that Khan sports on his arm.
Don 2 is a sequel to Shah Rukh’s previous movie Don. He will be seen sporting a tattoo printed on his arm which reads the letter, ‘D’. This is the first tattoo to be registered in the name of a celebrity.
The makers of the film Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar state that protecting the copyright to the tattoo design worn by SRK would keep their franchise alive and assist with the promotions also ensuring that none else uses it for commercial gain.
Indian Company sends patent infringement notice to Apple, Microsoft and others
Kootol Software, an Indian company has sent a patent infringement notice to more than 30 companies for violating its US Patent Application number 11/995,343, which relates to core messaging, publication and real time searching technology.
Kootol has sent the legal notice to prominent companies like Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Bharti Airtel, Webaroo Technology (India), Amazon, AOL, Nokia, Ford Motor, IBM, Linkedin, Research In Motion, Facebook and Twitter along with some other firms for alleged violation of technology covered in a patent application.
“A Notice of Allowance” has been issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, giving the company open to making licensing deals, a chance to working out the deals in the provisional time of three months. Kootol alleges that the companies may violate their intellectual property by using it for their Web sites, networks, applications, services, platforms, operating systems, and devices.
Hilton International Corporation looses trademark dispute in India
The Supreme Court in India has dismissed Hilton International Corporation's request seeking exclusive right over the trade mark 'Hilton.' An Indian hotel founded in 1973 and based in Sirohi, Rajasthan - Hotel Hilltone can carry on with its business under the 'Hilltone’ name, following this verdict. Hotel Hilltone is a registered trademark in India.
Hilton International has over 500 hotels in 76 countries. The global hospitality chain which owns the international chain Hilton Hotels and Resorts had entered the Indian market in 2007 in association with DLF. The group had filed a petition challenging the order of Jodhpur bench of the Rajasthan High Court, which had rejected the New York-based unit's claim to exclusively use 'Hilton' trade mark for its hospitality business in India in April.
The Rajasthan HC had upheld an order of the district court restraining Hilton International Corporation from using its trade mark because of its similarity with Hotel Hilltone. The district court had passed the order on a petition by Hotel Hilltone, restraining the hospitality group from using any kind of misleading logo and mark.
Lamborghini sues Vegas business over use of similar logo
The Italian automaker Lamborghini is suing a Las Vegas restaurant and car showroom for using its famous bull-in-shield logo.
A trademark infringement action has been filed in the federal court by the sports car manufacturer against the owners of the Dal Toro Exotic Car Showroom, Dal Toro Merchandise Gallery and Dal Toro Il Ristorante Italiano, located in the Palazzo resort on the Las Vegas Strip. They are allegedly using a mark much similar to the protected trademark at the entrance of premises and their exotic car showroom.
Clothing and accessories with imitations of the Lamborghini trademarks were also being sold by Dal Toro. Lamborghini claims that these are plans to confuse customers and to take undue credit on the reputation of Lamborghini.
EU, South Korea FTA enters into force
The European Union EU has entered into a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea which officially came into force on 1 July this year. This is the first deal between the 27-member Union with an Asian country.
This agreement is expected to have major significance in trade between both sides, which was estimated at €66 billion last year. The European Commission noted that EU exports could rise by approximately €19 billion with the deal. As per the agreement, tariffs will be eliminated or phased out on 96 percent of EU goods and nearly 99 percent of South Korean goods within three years and duties on most industrial goods will be abolished within the next five years.
The deal also includes provisions on IPR, especially geographical indications on both European and South Korean products will be protected; all agricultural indications will have the same levels of protection.
India and Singapore are among several countries discussing similar trade agreements with the EU.
