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September 17, 2025
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When “Ok” Becomes “Not Ok”: A cautionary tale of miscom...

An important step during patent prosecution in India is the hearing. As the Indian Patent Office (IPO) tends to issue only a single examination report, hearings before the Controller are common....
February 7, 2022
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Patent Claim Drafting: Two-Part Claims and Claim Charac...

At the heart of a patent application lies its claims. A claim is a signifier of the scope of protection that is sought under the patent. Claims are the first and most important aspect to be examined during prosecution, infringement, and litigation. Every patent application must be accompanied by at least one claim, and usually, an application contains several more. ......
November 27, 2020
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Patent Claim Drafting:“At least” and the conjunctive/di...

The phrase “at least one of” is commonly used in patent claims, but its interpretation is subjective and has led to some controversy. The issue that arises is this: when the phrase in its entirety is “at least one of A, B and C”, should it be understood as at least one of A AND at least one of B AND at least one of C, or should it be understood as at least one of A OR B OR C. ......
August 10, 2020
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Enablement Requirement (Sufficiency of Disclosure) for ...

Besides the patentability requirements of novelty, inventive step, and being capable of industrial applicability, a patent application must also meet the enablement requirement in order to be granted. A patent application is said to be enabled if the application provides sufficient details that enable a person of ordinary skill in the related field to practice the invention. ......
May 6, 2020
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USPTO denies Inventorship to Artificial Intelligence

On April 22, 2020, the United States Patent and Trademarks Office (the “USPTO”) issued an order  refusing inventorship of a patent application to DABUS, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) machine. This decision, which broadly appears to align with the position being taken in Europe and the United Kingdom with regard to the same invention, is likely to have a significant impact on the future of patenting, at least until there are statutory amendments to the contrary, or until it gets overturned for any reason....
March 16, 2020
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Valid claiming of priority rights in patent application...

On 16 January 2020, the European Patent Office (EPO) Board of Appeal revoked a patent related to CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and in doing so delivered one of the most anticipated decisions in the field of biotechnology patents in recent times. This gene-editing technology, which is the subject of a bitter battle for intellectual property rights between two rival parties - The Broad Institute and the University of California (UC), Berkeley, is revolutionizing research in biotechnology....
February 1, 2020
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Patenting AI inventions: best practices from around the...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we live and engage with the world. Besides smart devices (phones, speakers), and self-driving cars, AI is also set to revolutionize biotechnology and the health sector. Deep learning algorithms are being used in areas such as genomic data analysis, cellular profiling and characterisation which find use, for example, in cancer diagnosis, drug design and pharmacology, genome sequencing, and protein structure prediction. ...
April 5, 2019
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Patenting Antibodies in India

Over the years, a large number of patents have been granted for antibodies all over the world. The world is also seeing a shift towards biologic based drugs. Most of the top-selling drugs in 2018 were monoclonal antibodies with HUMIRA® leading the list. With the progress in the art and growing case law in this area, the criteria for patentability of antibodies are becoming increasingly strict, with restrictions on the scope of the claims. ...

When “Ok” Becomes “Not Ok”: A cautionary tale of miscommunication from the Indian Patent O...

An important step during patent prosecution in India is the hearing. As the Indian Patent Office (IPO) tends to issue only a single examination report, hearings before the Controller are common.

Navigating Share Transfer Restrictions in Shareholders’ Agreements

Transfer restrictions in shareholder agreements ("SHA(s)") have come to play a critical role in shaping deal dynamics. With India reporting a steady growth in mergers and acquisitions ("M&A"), questions of control, transfer restrictions, ownership flexibility and exit options have become crucial for investors and companies alike.

The Infringer’s Burden in Process Patent Suits in India

Indian patent law contains a unique provision that shifts the burden of proof onto the accused / infringer in process patent suits. But this applies only if certain conditions are met.

NCLT’s Jurisdiction for Fraud in Oppression and Mismanagement Petitions: The Supreme...

The role of the National Company Law Tribunal ("NCLT") as a specialised forum under company law has often led to questions around the exact scope of its jurisdiction.

Can a Trade Mark be opposed in India before it is Advertised for Opposition?

In India, the law provides for formal opposition to a trademark application only after it is advertised, but can a third party intervene even during the pre-advertisement stage?

Essential Clauses in a Contract – Force Majeure in light of Regulatory Shifts and Co...

In August 2025, Dream11, an Indian fantasy sports platform, terminated its Rs. 358 Crore sponsorship agreement with the Board of Control for Cricket in India ("BCCI").

A New Era in Online Gaming Regulation: Introduction to India’s latest Gaming Act

On 20th August, 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (“MeitY”) announced the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 (“the Act”), a significant legislative milestone which has since received the President’s assent and become an Act.

Guide to the 13th Nice Classification (2025-26) for Trademarks in India

The updated 13th edition of the Nice Classification reclassifies goods and services to streamline the trademark application and registration process.

A Stitch in Time: Quia Timet and Trademarks in India

Brand owners can use quia timet actions in India proactively to stop trademark infringement before it even happens, but must be careful about how, when and before which forum they seek remedies.

May or Shall: A Curious Case of usage in Arbitration Clauses

In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court ("SC") in BGM and M-RPL-JMCT (JV) v. Eastern Coalfields Limited reiterated that not every inclusion of an arbitration clause in a contract would amount to a valid arbitration agreement...