Tradition Meets Law: Bihar’s Patharkatti Stone Art Earns its Geographical Indication Tag
The 300 years old stone sculpture art of Bihar’s Patharkatti village in Bihar’s Gaya district has finally been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag in 2025. This prestigious recognition by the Geographical Indications Registry acknowledges the craftsmanship, historical legacy and the distinct material quality of the stone carvings originating from the Gaya region. This recognition paves the way for promotion and commercialization of the Patharkatti stone art in both national and international markets, potentially reviving the legacy of centuries old craftsmanship.
The Title Trap: Where Copyright Draws the Line
In a significant intellectual property ruling delivered in August 2025, the Bombay High Court in Sunil S/o Darshan Saberwal vs Star India Pvt. Ltd. & Ors. 2025: BHC-OS:13777
Facts of the Case
The plaintiff was the producer of the Hindi feature film Lootere, released in 1993. He claimed copyright ownership in the cinematograph film and asserted that the title Lootere had been registered with film producers’ association. In 2024, the defendants released a web series titled Lootere on a digital streaming platform. Aggrieved by using the identical title, the plaintiff approached Bombay High Court seeking an injunction, alleging copyright infringement and claiming exclusive rights over the title.
The plaintiff’s primary contention was that his prior use and registration of the title Lootere, coupled with copyright in the original film, entitled him to restrain the defendants from using the same title for their web series. The defendants, on the other hand, argued that a film title is not protected under the Copyright Act, 1957, and that registrations with producers’ association is a private arrangement and does not have any sanctity in law.
The Idea vs Expression: Analysing the Dismissal of the Shah vs Netflix Copyright Suit
New York, September 30, 2025 – the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Indian filmmaker Soham Shah against Netflix, Inc., Netflix Worldwide Entertainment, LLC, and Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-Hyuk. Shah alleged that the globally successful 2021 South Korean television series Squid Game infringed the copyright of his 2009 Hindi film, Luck, and its 2008 screenplay.
Justice Ronnie Abrams granted Netflix’s motion to dismiss the complaint, finding that Shah failed to establish ownership of the 2009 Hindi film Luck and its screenplay, and that, in any event, Luck and Squid Game are not substantially similar.
Heart Shaped Victory: Delhi High Court Recognises Britannia’s 3D Biscuit Mark
The Delhi High Court delivered a significant order in Britannia Industries Ltd against Shri Swastik Organics & Ors.
Facts of the Case
Britannia, one of India’s largest food companies, adopted the mark ‘Little Hearts’ in 1988 and launched its distinctive sugar-coated, heart-shaped biscuits in 1993.
In December 2025, Britannia discovered biscuits were being offered for sale on the platform Amazon under the identical name ‘Little Hearts’. The infringing products not only adopted the identical mark but also slavishly imitated Britannia’s distinctive heart shaped design and its unique red and gold packaging. The sellers further referred to ‘Britannia Little Hearts’ in the product descriptions and unlawfully used Britannia’s copyrighted images.
The Derma Co. v. Dermatouch: Trade Dress Protection in Skincare Packaging
India’s rapidly expanding cosmetics and skincare industry has witnessed a significant rise in intellectual property disputes, particularly those concerning packaging, colour schemes, and overall visual presentation of products. In an industry where branding, shelf appeal, and visual recall play a decisive role in consumer engagement, disputes relating to trade dress have increasingly become a focal point of litigation.
One such high-profile dispute arose between- The Derma Co. and Dermatouch, wherein allegations of copyright infringement and passing off were levelled on the basis of allegedly similar trade dress and colour combinations. The matter was adjudicated by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court, which ultimately refused to grant an interim injunction in favour of the Plaintiff- The Derma Co.
Jio’s Trademark Right Reaffirmed: No Free Ride on a “Well Known” Mark
In a significant ruling reaffirming the strength of protection afforded to well-known trademarks, the Hon’ble Bombay High Court has in a recent case held that “JIO” is a well-known mark and not a generic word that may be freely adopted or used by third parties without authorization. The trademark “JIO” has been registered in the name of Reliance Industries Limited since 2013 across several classes and enjoys exclusive statutory protection under the Trade Marks Act, 1999.
The Defendants, Asif Ahmed, Usman (Proprietor) and PDR Solutions LLC, were operating a cab service business under the name “JIOCABS” and had also registered and operated a website using the domain name www.jiocabs.com, which appeared to be deceptively similar to the Plaintiff’s registered trademark. Upon examination of the matter, the Hon’ble Bombay High Court found that a strong prima facie case of trademark infringement had been made out and accordingly granted an ad-interim injunction in favour of Reliance Industries Limited, ensuring protection of the registered trademark and granting appropriate interim relief to the owner of the impugned mark.
Territorial Rights Over Global Goodwill: The Blue Jays Trans Border Reputation Case
The question of whether a foreign brand’s trans-border reputation can automatically confer trademark protection in India has long been debated. In the recent Blue Jays case, the Division Bench of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court reaffirmed the principle of territoriality in Indian trademark law, emphasizing that global recognition does not automatically translate into domestic rights. The Division Court set aside the order of the Learned Single Judge, wherein the Judge had struck down the Blue Jays trademark being registered and used by an Indian partnership firm. While setting aside the order, the Division Bench in the case highlighted that the Respondent’s trademark- Toronto Blue Jays, though recognized globally, did not have sufficient goodwill in India at the relevant time.
NDTV Secures Ex Parte Injunction Against Misuse of Its ‘NDTV’ Mark
In today’s digital age, having a unique domain name, website, and social media presence is crucial for a brand’s growth and goodwill in the market. The Hon’ble Delhi High Court, in its recent ruling, protected the rights of New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV), one of India’s major media networks, by granting an ex parte ad-interim injunction, restraining the Defendants from infringing its trademark “NDTV” and from using any deceptively similar domain name, website, social media platform, or any other form exploiting the reputation of a well-known registered mark. Once again, the judiciary acted as a watchdog and protected the rights of the mark right holder. The issue not only involved trademark infringement but also concerned the integrity of public trust in media.
Mapping Matters: Why Patent Litigation Demands Technical Precision
The High Court of Delhi recently delivered a significant judgment in the matter of Mold-Tek Packaging Limited v. Neway Industries Pvt. Ltd. The case revolves around two key patents held by Mold-Tek regarding container closure systems: IN 401417 (for a “Tamper-Evident Leak Proof Pail Closure System”) and IN 298724 (for a “Tamper Proof Lid Having Spout for Containers and Process for Its Manufacture”). This dispute highlights the critical importance of claim mapping in patent litigation and clarifies the distinction between “infringement” and “invalidity” as legal defenses.