Patent Assignment and Proof of Right in India

Who owns an invention created by an employee? Is a separate assignment deed always necessary to establish patent ownership? Recent decisions of the Madras and Delhi High Courts have brought much-needed clarity to the law governing patent assignments and proof of right in India. These judgments emphasize that ownership is determined by the substance of the underlying legal relationship rather than mere technical formalities. This article examines the statutory framework under the Patents Act, 1970, the distinction between assignment of the right to apply and assignment of a granted patent, and the evolving judicial approach towards employment agreements, inventor declarations, and documentary evidence establishing patent ownership.

What Are Standard Essential Patents? How Modern Technology Depends on SEPs

Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) form the invisible legal and technological infrastructure behind modern connectivity. From smartphones and Wi-Fi routers to smart vehicles and streaming platforms, countless technologies function through common technical standards that ensure interoperability across devices and networks. When a patented invention becomes indispensable for implementing such a standard, it transforms into a Standard Essential Patent. Because manufacturers cannot comply with the standard without using the patented technology, SEPs occupy a unique position at the intersection of patent law, innovation policy, and competition regulation. This article explains the concept of SEPs, their role across different technological sectors, and the significance of FRAND licensing obligations in maintaining balance between innovation and market access

Breaking The 800-Year Silence of Nalanda University

For nearly 800 years, Nalanda survived only as ruins, memory, and legend. Once the intellectual heartbeat of Asia, the ancient university drew scholars from across the world long before modern global institutions existed. That silence has finally broken. From its destruction in the 12th century to its revival as a modern international campus in Rajgir, the story of Nalanda is not merely about rebuilding a university, it is about restoring a lost civilisational legacy.

Supreme Court On Whether Insolvency Tribunals Can Decide Trademark Ownership Disputes

Can insolvency tribunals decide trademark ownership disputes? In the Gloster trademark case, the Supreme Court clarified the limits of NCLT’s powers under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and held that trademark ownership must be decided by civil or statutory forums, not within insolvency proceedings.