Supreme Court Restores Limitation Extension. The period from 15-MAR-2020 till 28-FEB-2022 excluded from limitation period:
Taking note of the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, the Supreme Court has ordered the extension of limitation period for filing of cases and applications in courts and tribunals.
The order dated 23.03.2020 is restored and in continuation of the subsequent orders dated 08.03.2021, 27.04.2021 and 23.09.2021, t is directed that the period from 15.03.2020 till 28.02.2022 shall stand excluded for the purposes of limitation as may be prescribed under any general or special laws in respect of all judicial or quasi judicial proceedings", the Court ordered.
National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) launched by Govt. Of India - A National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) under the initiative of the Government's "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav", has been launched by Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary, DPIIT on 08-December-2021.
In order to reduce the pendency of TM Hearing proceedings, the Indian Trademark Registry is inviting application for hiring 30 Hearing officers purely on Contract basis in all the branches of Trade Marks Registry in India.
Patent Rules, 2003 is further amended and published on 21-September-2021. With the present amendments in the Patent Rules, the Union Government has reduced the fee for patent filing and prosecution for educational institutions by 80%.
Notice regarding commencement of third year of PPH pilot program between IPO and JPO – A Bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program commenced between the Indian Patent Office (IPO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) with effect from 5th December 2019. The guidelines in this regard have been published on the website of Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks. The IPO will start accepting Form 5-1 under Chapter 5 of the PPH Guidelines for the third year of the pilot program with effect from 20-December-2021. The number of requests will be limited to 100.
Read MoreCopyright (Amendment) Rules, 2021 is notified on 30-March-2021. The amendments have been introduced with the objective of bringing the existing rules in parity with other relevant legislations. It aims to ensure smooth and flawless compliance in the light of the technological advancement in digital era by adopting electronic means as primary mode of communication and working in the Copyright Office. A new provision regarding publication of a copyrights journal has been incorporated, thereby eliminating the requirement of publication in the Official Gazette. The said journal would be available at the website of the Copyright Office.
The Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021 is notified on 25-January-2021. Some key features of the amendment and the changes brought to the rules through it have been the adoption of the latest Locarno Classification, the streamlining of the process of applying for and prosecuting industrial designs in India, as well as the treatment of start-ups, small entities and natural persons on equal footing.