INTA Convenes First-Ever Board Meeting in India - International Trademark Association

In recognition of India’s soaring significance on the global economic and Intellectual property (IP) landscape, INTA’s Board of Directors visited New Delhi, India, from September 23 to 25 to conduct their third quarterly Board meeting of 2019, and to host a high-level government relations program. This was the Board’s first-ever visit, reinforcing INTA’s engagement in India and on the subcontinent.

To match the pace of development and innovation globally and in India, the IP ecosystem of the country has made remarkable strides. Through the introduction of the National Intellectual Property Rights Policy in 2016, and subsequent collaboration among government, enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and other stakeholders, India has emerged as a hub for efficient IP practices and socio-economic development. INTA has enthusiastically supported these positive changes and has been a strong collaborator in this crucial work. Through its ongoing engagements and annual delegations, INTA has demonstrated its nonpartisan position while advancing the protection of IP rights in India through the support of trademarks laws, global economic growth, and innovation.

The Board’s visit to India included a series of high-level meetings, including government relations programs, workshops, networking events, educational programs, and engagement with key representatives of the Supreme Court of India, the Delhi High Court, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (Ministry of Commerce), the Indian IP Office, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, law enforcement officials, IP attachés of foreign missions to the country, and members of India’s vibrant in-house legal community.

As a fitting introduction to their visit, the Board spent a leisurely day touring India’s capital, New Delhi, an ancient city steeped in culture. This tour provided Board members with the opportunity to take in the vibrant pageantry of India before the start of official events.

Board Meeting and General Counsel Reception

On September 23, INTA held its Board meeting at the Leela Palace hotel, New Delhi, led by INTA President David Lossignol (Novartis Pharma AG, Switzerland). That evening, Board members, accompanied by members of INTA’s India Global Advisory Council, attended a reception hosted by INTA for general counsels and senior in-house counsels of Indian corporations. The reception was made possible thanks to the support of Sadgamaya (a knowledge-sharing platform for general counsels and lawyers) through Manish Lamba (DLF Cyber City Developers, India) and India Global Advisory Council member Pulin Kumar (adidas India, India). INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo addressed the gathering, enumerating the Association’s numerous achievements and projects in India.

Made In India: Evolving Trends in Brand Protection

On September 25, more than 150 IP lawyers, in-house attorneys, corporate professionals, and members of the INTA Board of Directors attended INTA’s India Workshop, titled “Made in India: Evolving Trends in Brand Protection.” Discussions centered on the latest developments and emerging trends in trademark protection and litigation in India, international systems related to the graphical representation of nontraditional trademarks, and the evolution of artificial intelligence in the IP industry.

Throughout the workshop, key trademark issues were discussed by eminent IP lawyers and corporate legal practitioners, as well as representatives of India’s Joint Commissioner of Customs and such brands as Altran Group (India), Britannia Industries (India), Expedia Group Inc. (USA), Hindustan Unilever Limited (India), ICICI Bank Limited (India), and Taj Hotels (India).

The keynote speaker, the Honorable Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw of the Delhi High Court, opened the event by sharing insights on a variety of trademark infringement cases he has handled. He also touched on the latest developments related to the procedure of examination and registration of trademarks, and transparency in trademarks prosecution at the Indian Patent and Trade Marks Office.

A detailed report on the workshop can be accessed here.

On the same day as the India Workshop, an INTA delegation, including Mr. Sanz de Acedo, Mr. Lossignol, INTA Chief Policy Officer, External Relations Bruce MacPherson, and INTA India Consultant Gauri Kumar held a fruitful meeting with IP attachés from various international missions, including Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to learn about their key missions in India, share details of INTA’s activities in India, and discuss issues relevant to trademark owners.

Further information on the Board’s delegation to India is available here.

INTA India Consultant Gauri Kumar supports the Association’s 188 members in India. In collaboration with staff at INTA’s headquarters in New York City and Representative Offices around the world, Ms. Kumar works on the Association’s policy, membership, marketing, and communications initiatives throughout India. To learn more about INTA’s activities in India, please contact Gauri Kumar at [email protected].

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of items in the INTA Bulletin, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.