Introduction

SYNOPSIS '
Intellectual Property Rights ....................... ..
Copyright ............................................. ..
! T,rade secrets ......................................... .
Know how ........................................... ..
9
9
Industrial property ...... !................ ;...: .... .. 4 Abuse 1of:Intellectual Property .................... . 9
Patents ........................................ . 4 Tie-in arrangement ................................. 10
Trade marks ............................... . 5 Exclusive supply agreement ................ .. 10
Certification trade mark ........ . 5 Exclusive distribution agreement ........... . 10
Collective mark .................... . 6 Refusal to deal ...................................... .. 10
Trade marks for goods and Resale,price maintenance .................... .. 11
services ........................... . 6 World lntellectu~ Property ,Organization .. . \ 1.
Domain name ...................... .. 6 , International"registration and
Designs .......................................... '. ..... '.. 6 ' " Class1
' ·flcau··on sys tem ....................... . 12
Plant Varieties ................................. :..... . 7 Activities of WIPO ......................... .. :.. .. 12
Geographical indicatioi:is .......... ~············· 7 Arbitration and mediation centre .......... . 13
8' . , r \
Layout designs of integrated circuits ......

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY'RIGHTS
'/'{

Intellectual property is the ,creative work , qf the ,human intellect. The main
motivation of its protection is to ,proµiote. the prqgr~ssi.of science and technology, 1

arts, literature and other creative \\'.Orks and to en~ourage and reward creativity.
·' ·' I I '

Nations give statutory expression to the economic rights of creators in their

creations and to the rights of the public in · accessing those creations. This is
instrumental in' promoting creativity and: dissemination a:nd application of its
results. The economic and technological development of a nation will come to a
1

halt if no' protection is given to intellectual property rights. Therefore; the

contribution of intellectual·property is·sine qua non for the industrial and economic
development of a nation. The prosperity achieved by developed .natj.ons , is, to -a .} .,;/

large extent, the result of exploitation of their intellectual property.

( . !

., Intellectu3:I property. relates to pieces of inforn;iation which can be i.I).corporated

in tangibl~ object~ at the same time in an unlimited number of copies at different
Jpcati9ns anywhere in the world. The property is not in those copies but in the
information ,ireflected , iq those cop~ys, A.c.c;ording .J_ tp ,Artic;\e, 7(xijD, of the
,onvention Est~blishing the World Intell~~tufll Proy~rcy,1Qrgaµisati9n ~\\fIPO)
1967, intellectual property inplu9es, rig~t !.r~l~ting _to (i) lit~rf\IT, a,rtjsti~ -~d
scientific works; (ii) performance of performing artists, pho~ogr~s
broadcasts; (iii) inventions in all fields of human endeavour; (1v) sc1ent1fic
discoveries; (v) . industrial , designs; (vi) trad~maµcs, service ·marks ..and
commercial names and designations; (Nii) protectioniagainst unfair competition;
~d all other rights, resulting:from intellectual activity in the industrial; scientific,
 [1 ctual f_ropef !J.. LHgn_i ._
· --:..:.~
____, -=-- LQW..B£).ating to Jnte e .
I! 11 property thus, includes copyr;
h ·nteIIectua1 T ..ght
literary or artistic fields. T e t hical indications, ~atents,_ uh tty mocteJs' tr~
marks, service marks,. geogra~e secret, layout design of int~grated circuj' Plant
varieties industrial designs' tra d. .ded in to two branches - (I) copyright ts, tit
Intellec~al property is usually 1v1 and Iii;
industrial property· d ntral importance throughout the w
Intellectual prope~y has assf°~:p:;y, which was mainly the subject ir.
1
m::d
the recent past. The rntellectua ~r anization (WIPO) has also become a ror
the World Intellectual Property(W/0)-regiQie in I995. The Agreement on~ ~

.Jro Treaty evolved minimum standi1rc1,,ri~

the World Trade Orgamzation Pro erty Rights including Tr~de in Countera~
1
Related Aspects of Intellec:tthe 1

Goods (TRIPs Ag~eement) DOr the member states to incornn· f~r

the protection of mtellectual property '" Yvrate 10
their municipal laws.
Copyright
In India, copyright subsists in (i) origi~al literary, dramatic, _music~l and artistic
works; (ii) cinematograph films; and fiii) so:u~_d · recordi~g. ,~iterary work
includes computer prqgraJlllll~ includi?g. databases. The s~bJect-_matter of
copyright .includes -e:g· poems, novels, music, school _textbooks, q~estt?n papers
set for examination· law fep'ortt; catalogues; consignment note; drrectories·
' 1 I

mathematical tables; railway timetables; road books; guide books; book of

scientific questions and answers; rules of a game; stud books; trade statistics; any
piece for recitation, choreographic work or entertaim,nent :in, dy:mb show, the
scenic arrangement or acting form of which is fixed in writing or otherwise, a
painting, a sculpture, a drawing (including a diagram, ritap~~ lllur or pian), an
engraving or a photograph, whether or not any ' s·uch ·work possesses artistic
quality; work of architectufe; .. ~?Y bt~~r ,*ork of ~istic crafts~anship, etc.
The copyright Ja,W,_generally pr~vide_s to the ow~er of copyright-the right to
repr~duce •:the.. wor\( 1n ;µiy matenal form; to issue copies of the work to the
gub)i~; to perform the work in public, or communicate it to the public; _to make
any cm~matograph film or sound recording in respect of the work; to make an~
translation of the work; to make any adaptation of th e work·, etc,.
Industrial property ,
Industrial property is 'a kind of intellectual , f1ons
of the human mind Such er f . pro~erty and thus relates to crea_
Inventions are ne; solution:atmnts arhe_ mamly mventions and industrial designs-
o ec meal proble d · d · I d ·gns are
aesthetic creations determining the _ ~s, an m ustna est
this, industrial property includes tapdearance of ~n-~ustrial products. Apa_rt fro~
integrated circuits, commercial Iia~: emarks, _serv~ce inarks, laydut-des1gns_
indications, and protection ag·ainst u fs ~nd designations, as well as geographic
n au competition ·'
Paten~ · ·
Patent means monopoly right gra t d · · 10ii
.1s mvent10n
· · 1or·
.s: n e
a limited period f . to a ·per b
- son y· the ,Patent Office to exP .d
h
of 20 years: During this period, ~heti~e. I,n In~ia~a patent is granted for a pertJ~e j:

mventor is entitled ito exclude anyone e

from comme~cially exploiting his invention. The exclusive rights of the inventor
can be_ ex~rcised by a person other than the inventor with the latter's previous
authonzatton. The person to whom a patent is granted is known as the patentee.
B~fore pate~t is granted, _the patentee has to describe in the patent application,
the invenuo~ with ~uch clanty and completeness of all the technical details that
any one havmg ordinary_ skill in the art should by merely reading the description,
be abl~ to carry out the _invention. In other words, before a patent .is granted, the
i,nvenuo~ has to be ~sclos~d. The disclosure of invention provides useful
informauon to_ t~e p~bhc, which helps in avoiding wasteful duplication of effort
and the multiphcatton of costs that research aimed at finding solutions to
technical problems can entail.
The grant of patent not only recognizes and rewards the creativity of the
inventor but also acts as an inspiration or catalyst for further inventions which
ultimately contributes to the technological development of a nation.
An invention is patentable only when it is new, involves an inventive step, and
_capable of industrial application. After the expiry of the term of patent, it falls
into public domain and becomes public property. Any member of the public can,
thereafter use the invention without previous authorization of the inventor and
without paying any royalty to him. ·

Trade marks
A trade mark includes any device, brand, heading, label, ticket, name, signature,
word, letter, numeral, shape of goods, packaging or combination of colours or any
combination thereof. According to section 2(1)(zb) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999,
a trade mark should be capable of being represented graphically arid should also be
capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one·person from those of others.
. .· I

The trade mark law serves t\Yi~ important purpo~es: (i) it_ protec~ the public from
confusion and deception by.identifyipg the soµrc~ Qf o~gin of particular products as
distinguished from other siinil¥ products; and (ii) it _protects the trade mark owner's
trade and business as·well as the
.
goodwill which is attached to his trade mark.
'

The main functions of trade mark are-identification of goods, identification

of source, indication·about quality of goods and advertising.
Certification trade mark
Certification trade mark means a mark capable of distiQguishing the goods or
services in connection with which it is used in the course of ~ade which are
certified by the proprietor of the mark in resp~ct of ori~in, material, mode of
manufacture of goods or performance of services, quality, ac~uracy or o~er
characteristics from goods or services not so certified and registrable as such
under Chapter l}{'iof the Trade ·Marks Act,· ·:t'~~-~-in"-tes~b(~futhose 'geods•
·services in the name,ias proprietor of the certtficatton trade 1 mark of that person.
Certification trade mark now includes services also.

1. Section 2(1)(e), Trade Marks Act, 1999.

 the goods or serv-
Collective mark k distinguishing
. a trade mar . partnership wh·lCh tce. 8
CoJlecuve mark mean_s . f persons not bemg a IS Int
members of an association o Of Others 2
th
proprietor of the mark from ose •

Trade marks for goods .and services

d .
goods and services. ,Goods , mean
1
A trade mark may be regiStere ,or 3 'S • , s anYth
which is the sub·ect of trade or manufactur~- ervice ~eans service of ~
. . h. h1 . made available to potential users and mcludes the PTo. an1
escnptton w ic is . . . f industrial or comm . V1s1~
dof services in connecuon with busmess .0 llll:Y . . ercial ma11iii
such as banking, communication, educauon, fmancm~, msurance, clnt funds, reai
estate, transport, storage, material treat~ent, procesSmg, supply of e)ectricaJ 1
other energy, boarding, lodging, entertainme_n~, ~usement, construcl1on, Tej)au
conveying of news or information and advert1S1ng. '

Domain name
A domain name could be said to be a word or name which is capable IX
distinguishing the subject of trade or service made available to potential users o1
the Internet. A domain name may have all the characteristics of a trade mart
There is no legislation in India which explicitly refers to dispute resolution i1
connection with domain names. Domain names may be protected under the la1,1
relating to passing off.

Designs
Design means only the features of shape, configuration, pattern, ornament m1
composition of lines or colours applied to any article whether in two dimensioW
or three dimensional or i11 both forms, by any industrial process or means, (
wh_ether m~nual, mechanic~! or chelillC3.l;' sep(lfate 'of c'l)mbinfd, which in the I
finished article appeal to and are judged solely by' tfie ey e. 1
Design is applied to an article in two dimensional or three dimensional fofll1 °
in both the forms. Thus, as a general rule, a design consists of:
(i) three-dimensional features, such as. the shape of a product;
(ii) two-dimensional features, such as ornamentation patterns, lines or
color of a product; or '
(iii) a combination of one or more such featur~s
The design
· d must
d 1be1 such
b that in the finished arttc. 1e· the features of 1-1 'appealJJiO
1
v
an are JU ge so e y y the eye.' A good s b" . , ·, · . be vislll"
d
appealing, though it need not be a . . u 1ect of design must .
· . . n art!Stlc work or possess artistic merit. .
. The pr?tectJon of mdustrial design is im . · . ·. creativi~
00
1 . unng sectors an.d helps in . the eco ovc
1n the 1ndustnal - and manufact . portant as Jt encourages the
·development of .a n~tion. A~ ind ustrial design adds commercial r value to a
produc t by making. 1t attractive.. The manufac tur
· ers,, therefore1 pay adequate
th
attentio~ to the_ designs of e articles they produce. For this purpose, they invest
substanual capital and .carry out rese~ch. Legal protection, therefore, becomes
necessary fo_r the creat10_n of new designs and their application to artides as ii
ensures a return on mve~tment. An_ effectiv~ system of protectio·n pro~otes
fair compett~ion and hon_est trade practices, encourages creativity and promotes
more aesthetically attractive products. ·

plant varieties
(Under Pr~~~on.£.ffl~.i~!.Varieties and Farme~s' Rights Act, 2001,a new variety
~~ble only i!.
it c5>nfo~ s t? the cntena_pt novelty, distinctiveness,
u~ ! Y -~VP, s\a.,ln4!.Y.- Tlie_cntenon .of novelty is not applicable for the
registration of an extant vanety. An extant variety is registrable within a
specified time i~ i~ conforms to such criteda of distinctiveness, uniformity and
stability: An ehg1bl~ . m~y make ai;l _apglic~!ion 'to the Registr_fil' for
~ g!§!fa9_9E.~f any vanety of specified genera and species; or an extant variety;~or
a farmers:_ vaIJ.~ ~
~ -Rf.ID'ld.es"'f ou~tabli~Jiw£nt ctive s stem for protection of
~ ~-' the rigl}_!~fl~~!~ a!!PJ~lant breeders in In ta. t e11courages tJie
de_y~_lopment..of-D€}W-J)lanL~_e~~I:)
. . .:.
. :. . '""'* ' . .• ''(. , .'-~· .I : : •- ,·,
I
.
I
.
L... •

The enactment of the _Prot~ction of Plan,! ;Yapeties an9 Farmers,':. Rights ~ct_,
1

2001 is an outcome of the ~dia,' s obligatiqp.s ~p,i~p, ,arose, fr~m. ArtiGle 27 (3}<W,
o~ T.RlfA_ A ~~ hich obligates Members to prote~
either by patents or by an effective sui gfneris ~ys\eJil .qrl~ any -G<.>.:rp.qination
thereof. India decided to protect plant by' as)l( generis law 'i~e: the Plant
Varieties Act. ;··
I •• '

Geographical indications
Geographical indication indicates that , art' ' ar goodsi1originate from a couh
regioll, or locality and has some sp_e.ciaLc.bAr.,actens s; qu ities or reputation;
~hich are attributlfile ' to its place of ori~ :Tlf<:fe SRecial ch11flJf1l'ij'jstic,,,-
qual'ities-orreputation may -~e~~due to vanousac , ,:e.g. ·natural factors sj)cb ·as
r~materials, soil, regiona ~ Jll)ll:rature,.mmsture etc:;_ odhemethod: of
manufacture. .:.Of pfc;paration,' of the'· product l such as ·trad1t1onal 1product1on
1

methods; or other human factors such as concentration ofisimilar businesses~in

the , s~me region, . specializatjon . in, ili,e pro~uction .or ,pr,eprJ~i?~ of _c.~~~n
products and tlle' niaintainiilg of certai.n . qi:iality standard~. . The connect19µ _
1

between the oods· and · 1 · es..so--famous that any refer~nce.t.o..the...W::a~~ - ·

s ~---~~tjg' l?! <?.~~ced. _there .. t~e,':!~~
y~r.s~ . For exam~le, the

:· Section 14, P~ant Varieties Act, 2~01. " ra hical indications of Goods (Registration and
· Surekha Vas1shta and Amar RaJ Lall, GeAhog .P ( d) The Law of Jniellectual Property Rights:
Protection) Act, 1999" in A.K. Koul & V.K. U:Ja, e 1· ,' 248 ··
In Prospect and Retrospect, Faculty of Law, Delhi, 200 , P· ·
 ]Aw_ JWll~~-
8: - ~ France brings to mind th ~
e \V1
. . t of Champagne, ne
reference to D~stn~ . roduced there.
'Champagne' which is being p . d' . t1·ons are e.g. 'Pilsen' and 'Buct
. al in ica . , 'S We·
Some of the geographic' 'Sh rry , 'Chianti,' 'Cognac, cotch Whi kIs'
beers 'Champagne,' 'Porto, Te ,' 'Roquefort,' 'Real California ch s Y,' !

' ' d 'Assam ea, . 'Fl 'd O eese ,

" Darjeeling Tea a~ ~- hedos' for wines, on a ranges' 'N ,
I
i

'Tuscany' for olive 01 1, '_Vale ~os ~n, 'Swiss Watches,' 'Czech ~ry ew
Zealand Lamb,' 'In~,an ke' {o~ s~arpets, •Havana' for tobacco, "Kas~tai'
'Idaho' for potatoes, Hehre ft warm luxurious wool produced by ~hlr
Pashmina" made from t e so ' ' e
Himalayan goats, etc.
Geographical. . . •
md1cattons basica
· lly ..r-
nerform
- - -:·4
three func...tions- First~fl,
.,,_,_ _. . ,. • • - c~·1 ~.
• •
1

identify_good.s-as., originating in a .part1cajfY:J.emtory, or a region or locality in

tfiatterritory; secondly~eys"ug~[]fii~~QQ~_':1~!:~~l]_a!;the. g~s-c me from an
area where a given .9.uali~ reputatipn ?r o~h~r- charact~nStlc 9f the goo sis
essen~ r.ibutable t,o_t])QI"~2~~ph1c ?~~ and thtrdly, the~ promo~ the
producers of a particul~:1"ea. . 7' ._
The fun~tions ~ugm_e~al indications ~ e.-~ gi_fferent from that of the
traclemar@ Traclemarks are owned by enterpµses a.lliUls.e:cl~ffyproducts
and services in the mar~-~~} n particular to distingui~h them from-·corilpeting
products and services whereas a geographical indication never belongs to a
particular enterprise. A geographical ii:tdication can be used by ~ ral
en_te~ rise_s . ~t the-Sam~ provided that the product~ for _which it is useq
ongmate m the geographical area to which the ind!£_ati<?_~-~ -=} - ' ---·

Layout designs of integrated circuits

. '

Integ~ated circuits pl~y a significant role for the advancement of technology

~spe~ially for electromcs and_ information technology. Integrated circuits are used
m ah~ge ranhg~ of dproducts mc!uding mobile phones . television watches radio,
was mg mac .me, ata processmg e • ' , '
c~eat~ those layout-designs which :re1:~;ents ~tc. T~ere is a ~r~win~ need to
c1rcmts and simultaneously increas th . ~e di~ens10ns of ex1stmg mtegrat~
circuit, the less the material needed : .eir unctions. The smaller as integrate
needed to accommodate it The c t~r its manufacture, and the smaller the space
. . . · rea 10n of a ne 1 • ated
_circmt involves enormous invest . w ayout-design of an mtegr
highly qualified experts. . ment, bo th in tenns of money and the urne of
Semiconductor integrated circu·t .
1 means
· · th r
cuc~1try e_ ements which are inseparabl
1 a product having transistors or o e
an msulatmg material or inside th . y f~rmed on a semiconductor material or
perform an electronic circuitry functi:n~f miconductor material and designed to i
1!
i

7, Section 2(r), Layout Desiims AN ,,,(\A,,.

Ii tJ l:N; -IJ'lj@ ififli 41
. Layout-desig~ means a la7out of transistors, and other circuitry elements ·and
includes lead wires connectmg such elements and expressed in any manner in a
semiconductor integrated circuit. 8
A layout-des_ign is regi~trable in India only when (i) is original; (ii) it has not it
been commerc~,al~y e~pl01ted ~nywhere in India or in a ·convention country; (iii) it
is inherently distm~tive; and (1v) it is 1inherently capable ·o f being distinguishable
from any other registered layout-design. · · , ·
. '

The term of registration o~ a layout-d~sigp shcµl be only for a period of 10 years

counted from _the date_ of _filmg an application for registration or from the -~ate of
first commercial expl01tat10n anywhere in any country whichever is earlier.
. . ,; ' : • . • . !

Trade secrets
Trade secret is confidential inform·ation of a business -~r·enterprise. A trade secret
is any information that can be used in the operation of a business or other
enterprise and that is sufficiently ·valuable to afford an actual 'or ·potentfa1
economic advantage over others.- ·The owner ·of trade ,secret should I take every
precaution to keep it secre,t. · .... ,1 ••
1
,

Trade secrets · may include ·· e.g. designs, drawings; architec~ra_l '' piails;
blueprints ~d maps; data conipifations·such as lists ·or' customers; algorithms -and
processes that · are . impiemented in computer : programs · -'Afld utfie ·programs
themselves; instiuctiorr~l methods;•manufacturing or ·repair processesi;;te~~niqa:es
and ·know ·how; document :tracking processes; formulae for prodlici!l!t i>roducts;
business strategies, business plans, methods of doing business, m~k'.etfiig- p:taiis;
financial information; personnel records; schedules; manuals; information about
research and development (R&D) activities; etc. .!··:~1•,i--.,-!;f;"'·=z ; ·i- ~~t;' ;·,
. '. '. ,., Jt ! J 7
-· j .) ,,.
r
Know.how ,;_ \
l
'1
I(
•
I
I,
I

Know how is acquired or developed by a person in the course of research and

development activities or through the applieation :QF.:. ipdµ~tri al9·aird; b usint s$
techn~~ue~ in th~,opef<!t~?~S ,t~e ~nte:rprisy,i It rth~fefo~~• c\<\t~ ,or_)19io'Y!~dge
resultm~ from ~~J)epenc;t; . qr,, ~kills., ,cµtd can b~ 1~enti~e~ . ~ . °.Vi ~y~y.vaqt
documentation e.g., di~~r~ s ?f ~ e lay91:1t,P~ tpe_J?lcffit, dr~w\n~~ pi;.~l~~p~ ts p~
machines, manuals or instructions prepared by the operation of machines or the
assembly of components, specificati9p,s. _of. ra"' ~a.tertaj~,, lc!~our. app ·-n:iac¥,ne,
time calculations, packaging and storing instructions etc. .. '
1 • I j : '
1
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: .1,
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ABUSE'6FINTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ..
Intellectual property laws confer exclusive ri~hts on the ow!1~r~ o~ i~t~llectual
property. These rights are not absolute but subject to such oond1uons ·which have
been l~d.)d~)Vn i9 th~ law. J}Je inteU~~tual _property !l~w~ and J>tqer,,la~s.:s.u chms
Competitio.l),,J\ct,, 200Z.,eq~ui:e that the owners o{,such 1,ntellectu.al propei;ty do not
abuse their exclusive rights.

8. Section 2(h), id.

 • es the fact that -some licensing·pr .
al o recogntz . hi h . cletic
The TRIPs Agreement . s al property nghts w c restrain colll
conditions pertaining to mtelle~:and may impede the transfer and disse ~ti~oti
may have adverse effects on tra nt enables Members to specify li~aijna
RIPs Agree me t• • th' ·. · ce0 ."II
of technology. Th_e_ T . their · legislation , at may cop.stltute ,an a.bu ~1n2
practices or condition~ m . · an' adverse effect . qn competition .se Of
intellectual property nghts
relevant market. ~e Mem?
!~Y:; Iadopt , ~ppropriate J~easures_ to pre_v: the
y include for example exclusive r nt or
contr_o~ such pra_c~1ces, wh1cn~i:ga~hallenges. to valtdity and coerciv!
conditions, cond1t1ons preve . l\clge
licensing. 9
· . ,
Exclusive grant-back arrangements are thos~ arrangements under Which a
. • • d to extend to the licensor of 1ntellectual property the right
11censee 1s reqmre . · , to
use the licensee's improvements to the hcensed technologr · .
Where th~ licens9r forces licensee. to take -a~di~io?al _license(s) for
patent(s)/technology a~ a condition- -~f hcense -e~en :If .1t 1~ not required by
licensee, such license is called.as co~rc1ve package license. ,
In India, section 3 of the Competition Act, 2002 ,prohibits anti-competitive
agreements. Section 3(4) -prev~nts enterprises or persons at . differ~nt stagesror
leyels of the prodllction chain in different markets, .to enter into agreeIDent§ .~
r~spec,t of groduction,i.~:upply, distribution, stor~ge; s~e .of price of, or.trade in
g~ods or provision of -services, if sue~ agreement causes or is_. likely to cause an
appreciable ,adverse effect . on competition in IIJpia. These agreements shall
in~l.ude the following;-, ..
. fr; . '•
(i) Tie-in arrangement
Ti~-~n arrangement includes any agreement requiring a purchaser of goods, as a
cond1t1on of such purchase, to purchase some other goods.

(U) Exclusive supply agreement

Exclusive supply agreement includes any agreement •tri ti 1· manner
the purchaser ·in the course of his trade from ac . . res . c hng ? andy aling in
.r ,d ' t·h • . h. qu1nng or ot erw1se e
~f g??. s er t an those of the seller or any other person.
(iii) Exclusive distribution agreement
Exclusive distribution agreem~nt includ~ ' ... ..' 1 • :1, ' • tor
• ' , ,

withhold the output or supply of an s any agreement to hnut, restnc

disposal or sale of the goods. y goods or alloGate any are,a or ~ar~et for the
·' .
(.iv) Refusal to deal
Refusal'to deal includes any agreeme . . · . b
any method the ·persons or classes of nt which re_stricts or is likely to restrtct, ;
whom goods are bought. persons ·to ,whom goods are sold or frO
(v) Resale price maintenance
Resale p~ce maintenance includes any agreement to sell ·goods on condition
that the pnces to be charged on the resale by the purchaser shall be the prices
stipulated by th e seller unless it is clearly stated that prices lower ·than those
prices may be charged. . ,,
It is, however, noteworthy that there shall be no restriction on the right bf any
person to re strain .any infringement of, or to impose reasonable conditions, as
may be necess~ for protecting any of his rights which have been or 'may be
conferred upon him under the Copytjg~t Act, 1957; Patents Act, 1~710; T,r~de and
Merchandise ~arks ,Act, 1958 9r the Trade Marks Act; 1999; Gyogr~phical
Indications of Goods (registration ~d,Protection) Act, 1999; Desigi;is Act,, 2000;
or Semi-conductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Designs,Act, 2000.
Section 4 of the ·Competition Act prohibits abuse of' dominant ,position.
"Dominant position'" means ,a position of strength, enjtyed by an enterpri'se, in
the relevant market in India, which enables it to-(i) perate independently of
competitive forces prevailing in the relevant market; or ii) affect its competitors
or consumers or the relevant market,in.·its favour: 'Jh,ertjoy dominant,positioti is
not bad per se, but to abuse it is prohibited. The following conditio~s are to be
considered as ari abuse of domiha* position:~ if an ehterpnse a g'r8up:
, , 1 t • , 1
' ' • r •1
or ,i r., I . .: · , •'

(i) directly or inqire.ctly impQses u~fair or discriminatoJY:- : ,· 1

(a) condition.in pµrchas~ Qr sale of good~,or service; or i , • • •,1 , ,

. (b) price in purchase or. sale (in:cluding,predatory,price) 1~ of.goods .or 1

service; or . · . ·. i .• •

(ii) limits orlR~.~rist~7 ' . . . ': 1

,' ' 'I I 1

· . (a) prodl;lction of goods or proxision of ,service~ or,m.~¼-~t µu;re for; or,

(b) technical ,or scientific de:velopment•relating to, goods·,or ..sef:Yices
, to the prejudice.of consumers; or . ,i, :· .,1, .. , ,. ,
1 , • \ • ,.

(iii) indulges ,in practice,· or practicesiresulting in denial ot market.access. lin 1 1

any manner; or.: . ,1 ·1 111, ,' t •••· 1 J:.1 i1 , ·

(iv) makes conclusion 'of contracts':s~bjecMo ac~eptance:'by, other'})ai:ties<>f
supplementary obligations which, by. their . nature i .~c~or4~?~: _to
commercial usage, have no connection with the subject · of -such
contracts; pr , , , 1·. · • .,: :

(v) us~s. it~domi~aµt ,position in one relev~t rµarket to ente,r ,into, or

.protect., 9~her re)evant market. · · 1 •

WORLD INTELLECl;UAL,:PROPERTY ORGANIZATION

The Worl~ Intellectual ProEerty Org,anizagon £~Ori i~
- · · -h. h tabli' shed by the " onvent1on stabhs
inte.m;onal
mg the or.Id
'li'.
organization w 1c was es
....., ,
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. ,
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' ' els or rovision ,of services, at a price which is below the
10. "Predatory price" means the,sale 0[ ~oo f p~duction of the goods or provision of services, with
cost, flS may be d~~nni~e~ ~y reg~ ~uons,tho c~m titors.
a view to reduce competition or ehmmale e pe
112,,.••. &itrt!itl'.rJ.tnM~
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. · n " The ConYeJ!tionya£J;j ned St .

tellectual Property OrganizaU?,.,:"~974 it had the status of a oc~oJlil ,
199] an e re tpto for~e m ".1 t v. .- _ :...:., _.. .. _..,.,, ... ~ PeciaI I~
a~ ~ -tJl~\JJ!i.te<!~~!l§.-• . ·
· . . WIPO be traced back to the adoption of Paris Co ·
The ongmcof . c_an 1883 and 1886 respectively. Both the Con~veii~
and Berne onventton m . t · t d entio
provided for the establishme11.!Jt i~rpattpp~1secre ana s an_·were Plac~ undlls
the supervision of thHS°wlss Federal _G
,mr':P.1111.§P 'f!lese secrelariaJs.
subsequently united ~dknown as JiIBEL WIPO ..~~ccessor to~: ere
( Beillg a specialized agency, ':"!PO is s~bject to the _compet~nce_ of~ Druieo
Nations and ' its organs, and ts responsi_ble for taking ap~rop~a~e ,action in
accordance with its basic instrument, tr~a~ies an~ .a~ee~e~ts ~d~~•ster~ by it
WIPO is dedicated to P,l.Qlll~~ .. crea.tlYJt~ and~ 1nr~yatton by e~sunng ~at
the rights of creators and owners of intellectual pr?~ert~ ected
worldwide, and t!lat.illX.~t~ ..~ d ~qth,ors .are thl}~ ~~~?!~.:~6--and Iewartfed for
their ingenuity') · · ·! · · -......
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lnternatio~al.Registration and Classification System :

WIPO proviµes intematiqnal· reg~stratiop syst~~~ u_~der 'Pffferent _tre~ties for
patents, trademarks, appellations of origin and industrial designs. These greatly
simplify the process for simultaneously' ·seeking intellectual property protection
in a large number of countries. Instead·of having·to file national applications in
many languages,. these systems enable applicants to. file a single application, in
one language, and to pay a single application fee.
In addition, four WIPO treaties have created classificatiod 'S'ystems, which I

organize, information on different branches o:f industrial •p'roperty 'ihto indexed,

mru:iageable •structures for easy ,retrieval. The classification system assists a
person who applies for a patent or seeks registration of. ·a trademark or design,
whether .at the"national or international level. ·,The . applj~anL.can search the
required information with the help of classification system to know whether his
cre.ation is new or has been owned or claimed by someone else.
Activities of WI PO ,,
' I

The development c~operation activities of WIPO in the field of intellectual

pr?pe'ity inclu?es: (i) training of ~ovemment officials and representativ~s.of
pnvate en~erpnses sue? as lawrers, mdustrial property agents, etc.; (ii) prov1d1~g
legal adv1c~ an~ as~~~tanc~ ?r~ft!ng_ ne\Y,, _or revising existing indu~tnal
prop~rty_ le~1slat10~; (m) esta~Irs~n~ or 'stMngtli'ehii?giiidustriai property ?~.c~
an<l ~sl!tullon&; (1v) Pn')lll~ting, md1_gftnQus i~nQYjlli'l!e and, il)ven(iveiPCIJVI""";
(v) usmg .t4~:,te~bno1Qg19al_!mformat10n c9ntained. In aJ)Jltent do,c),lillen~~·(vt) th
en~ou~agement m. d~velopm~ countrie~. of intellectual creation in the _literarYd
sc1e.nt1~c . ~d art1st1c domain; an~ (vu) the development of legislation
institutions
i • b m the fields of copynght
,i . f tr . . . l: an.d neighboring ng • hts in developing
. of
countnes y wa o ammg, m1onnation meetings and seminars, drafting
1

/
wodel Jaws, assistance in the setting up and modernization of institutions,
p·ublication of guides and manuals etc.

Arbitration and Mediation Centre

WIPO also provides an Arbitration and Mediation Centre, which offers services
'or the resolution of international commercial disputes between private parties
nvolving intellectual property. The subject matter of these proceedings includes
,oth contractual disputes (such as patent and software licenses, trademark
:oexistence agreements, and research and development agreements) and non-
:ontractual disputes (such as patent infringement). The Centre is also recognized
.s the leading dispute resolution service provider for disputes arising out of the
11
busive registration and .use of Internet domain names.