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Death Penalty in USA

By: Muskan Sharma

Death Penalty/Death Sentence/Capital Punishment is a state-sanctioned method of homicide in response to the commission of an offence. Death Penalty owes its origin to the Code codified by King Hammurabi of Babylon. In this code, Death Penalty was a punishment for 25 crimes.

At this moment, different nations use the following methods to execute death penalty on convicted persons:

  1. Hanging
  2. Lethal Injection
  3. Shooting
  4. Electrocution
  5. Beheading
  6. Gas inhalation

Earlier, violent methods like burning alive, disembowelment, blood eagle, back-breaking, crushing by animals, brazen bull, poison, suffocation, slow slicing were used. However, the practice of executing death penalty evolved over the time and less violent methods dominated over such inhuman methods. But the practice of death penalty, no matter the method of execution, is an inhuman act in itself.

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Death Penalty v. Human Rights

There is a constant debate whether death penalty is violative of the concept of Human Rights? Some countries have abolished death penalty for being violative of the right to life and dignity whereas other countries do not abolish death penalty believing it has no connection with human rights.

However, in the USA, the concept of human rights is a little alien. In the USA, ‘Civil/Constitutional Rights’ have force, which focuses on securing equality to different groups. Hence, death penalty is not considered as violative of human rights within the territorial limits of the USA.

History of Death Penalty in USA

In England, Death Penalty was a punishment for numerous offences including petty offences like picking pockets or stealing bread. During the 1800s, around 270 offences were punishable with death penalty in England. Michigan abolished death penalty as a punishment in 1845. Later, Wisconsin also adopted the same approach in 1848. Therefore, both England and the USA reduced the number of capital offences and centred their focus on first-degree murders. Public executions also decreased gradually with time.

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Death Penalty for Murder

The USA started doing away with the death penalty as a punishment in the 1950s and 1960s due to public protests against the same. As a result, no execution took place between 1968 and 1976 in USA. One of the landmark cases in the history of death penalty in the USA is Furman v. Georgia[1].

Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972)

Facts: The resident woke up in the middle of the night and found Furman committing burglary in the house. During the trial, Furman said that while escaping, he tripped and the weapon fired accidentally which resulted in the death of the victim. Since the weapon was fired during the commission of a felony, Furman was guilty of murder and therefore, subject to death penalty under the then existing laws. Though he was sentenced to death penalty, the same was never executed.

Decision: The Court, with a ratio of 5:4 held that death penalty is a cruel and unusual punishment and violative of the Constitution.

US Supreme Court’s decision in Furman case motivated almost 35 states to modify their laws concerning death penalty. However, two different approaches were adopted to modify the laws while abiding by the suggestions provided in the Furman case.

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In the first approach, the state described which offences are punishable with death penalty along with mitigating and aggravating circumstances. A convicted person can only be sentenced to death penalty if the aggravating circumstances weighed more than the mitigating circumstances. This approach was adopted by Georgia, Texas, and Florida.

In the second approach, the state merely prescribed which offences are punishable with death penalty. Death penalty was mandatory in such prescribed offences and the Court did not need to consider mitigating or aggravating circumstances. This approach was favoured by North Carolina and Louisiana.

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However, another case named Gregg v. Georgia[2] again proved to be a landmark judgment in the jurisprudence of death penalty in USA.

Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153 (1976)

Facts: The defendant committed two armed robberies and two murders. Based on the amended laws, the Court heard the matter using the bifurcated procedure. The Georgia Supreme Court came to the conclusion of conviction and awarded death penalty for murder but vacated death penalty for armed robbery. In this case as well, the issue before the Court was whether a law that enables the Court to award death penalty is violative of the Constitution.

Decision: The Supreme Court observed that death penalty does not violate the Constitution. Courts cannot completely do away with the punishment of death penalty and that the statutes ensure that while awarding death penalty, the Court considers the circumstances of the offence, character of the offender, procedure to be followed.

Therefore, in Gregg v. Georgia[3], the decision of Furman case was overruled. US Supreme Court, via the decision in Gregg v. Georgia[4] held that death penalty is not violative of the Constitution. In this case, the Supreme Court went further and observed that the mandatory death penalty approach adopted by North Carolina and Louisiana’s statutes is unconstitutional. Thereafter, legal executions started again but at a slow pace. Only 50 death sentences were executed between 1977 and 1985.

However, one issue pending for a ruling was whether the punishment of death penalty was applied equally. The same was answered in McCleskey v. Kemp[5].

McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 US 279 (1981)

Facts: Warren McCleskey was convicted for committing two robberies and one murder. He was an African-American and he murdered a White Police Officer during the course of one of the robberies. He was sentenced to death penalty due to two aggravating circumstances: first, he committed the murder during the course of a robbery, and second, the victim of murder was a Police Officer engaged in the performance of his duties.

McCleskey preferred an appeal to the Federal Court and based his claim on a study performed by David Baldus, Charles Pulaski, and George Woodworth. The study depicted that the process of awarding death penalty was discriminatory i.e. individuals who murdered whites were likely to be sentenced to death penalty.

Decision: The Court disregarded the statistical study on the ground that it contained no substantial evidence that may justify the reversal of his conviction. The Court concluded that the conviction was right and the lower court applied the Georgia Law properly.

Death Penalty to Juvenile Offenders

After McCleskey v. Kemp[6], another landmark decision was put forward by the US Supreme Court in Roper v. Simmons[7].

Roper v. Simmons, 543 US 551 (2005)

Facts: Simmons (17-year old boy), along with his two friends Benjamin and Tessmer, made a plan to murder Shirley Crook. He planned to break into the house of the victim, commit a burglary, and kill him. However, Tessmer withdrew from the plan at the last moment. Benjamin and Simmon tied her up, covered her eyes, drove her to a state park, and then threw her off from a bridge. Simmon himself confessed to the murder.

Simmon was, therefore, convicted under the charge of murder. He moved to the trial court for setting aside the conviction on grounds of his age, impulsiveness, and troubled background. The trial court rejected his contention. The appeal went to the Supreme Court of Missouri and it concluded the case by awarding life sentence to Simmon with no parole. The decision of the Supreme Court of Missouri was based on the ground that death penalty awarded to juvenile offenders is violative of the eighth amendment of the constitution.

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It was further appealed to the US Supreme Court.

Decision: The US Supreme Court held that awarding death penalty to an offender, who is below 18 years of age, is violative of the Constitution. This decision also overruled Stanford v. Kentucky[8] in which the court upheld the awarding of death penalty to offenders at 16 years of age or older than that.

Rape and Death Penalty

The US Supreme Court in Coker v. Georgia[9] held that death penalty awarded consequent to the rape of an adult woman is unconstitutional i.e. violative of the eighth amendment to the Constitution.

Coker v. Georgia, 433 US 584 (1977)

Facts: Ehrlich Coker escaped prison while he was serving multiple sentences for his conviction for rape, kidnapping, and murder. He broke into a house, raped the woman present in the house, and then stole the vehicle. He was convicted of rape, armed robbery, and other petty offences.

Decision: He was awarded death penalty for committing rape because of two aggravating circumstances, the first being prior conviction for capital offences, and the second being the commission of rape during an armed robbery. The Georgia Supreme Court upheld the death penalty.

But the US Supreme Court held that even though the rape was committed by a hardened offender during the course of another offence, it did not lead to the murder of the victim. It was observed that rape involves injury, physical and psychological, but the injury is not of serious nature. Therefore, the US Supreme Court overturned the death penalty awarded to Coker.

The question whether death penalty should be awarded for raping a child or not is answered in Kennedy v. Louisiana[10].

Kennedy v. Louisiana, 554 US 407 (2008)

Facts: Kennedy was convicted for the offence of raping his minor step-daughter causing serious injuries to her private parts. The Trial Court convicted him for the offence of rape and sodomizing a minor. Death penalty was awarded to him consequently.

On appeal, the Louisiana Supreme Court affirmed the conviction as Louisiana’s statute on Child Rape authorized death penalty.

Kennedy rested to appeal before the Supreme Court of the United States of America invoking the Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution. Eighth Amendment prohibits unusual and cruel punishments or excessive punishments through criminal sentences.

Decision: The US Supreme court reversed and remanded the case to the lower court for resentencing. The Court further observed that it is unconstitutional to impose death penalty for the crime of raping a child when the victim does not die and death was not intended.

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International Law on Death Penalty

The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was adopted by the UN General Assembly, with the aim to abolish death penalty. It has 89 State parties.

Article 1 of the Optional Protocol provides that no person shall be executed within the jurisdiction of any of the State parties to the Optional Protocol.

Article 2 is an exception to what is stated in Article 1 and provides that the State party, may, at the time of accession or ratification, communicate the need for reservation for application of death during wartime. A State party may communicate the need for such reservation only for serious offences of military nature and further, let the Secretary-General know about the provisions concerning warfare within its national legislation along with the beginning and end of a state of war.

Articles 3, 4, and 5 further provide for the wide ambit of powers of the Human Rights Committee with respect to the State parties’ obligations towards the Second Optional Protocol.

Why Death Penalty needs to be abolished?

Abolition of Death Penalty or Capital Punishment in the USA is the need of the hour for the following reasons:

  1. The scheme for awarding death penalty to a convict is used in a discriminatory manner. A black or a person of colour is more likely to get death penalty as compared to a white. Also, it depends a lot on the net worth of the party, the attorneys they are financially capable of hiring, and the place where the offence was committed.
  2. Death Penalty, in its entirety, failed to serve the purpose of its existence. Death Penalty existed as a method of punishment based on the deterrent theory of punishment. However, numerous surveys have proved that death penalty was not effective in reducing the number of crimes being committed. Therefore, the deterrent theory of punishment needs to be disregarded in totality. Instead, the Rehabilitative theory of punishment must be considered by Judges and Magistrates while awarding punishments to convicted persons.
  3. Death Penalty is in itself a cruel and inhuman act. It is violative of the Right to Life and Dignity available to every person in this world. Death Penalty is a relic of early criminal codes and has no place in a country that considers the security of human rights as its top priority.
  4. Death Penalty is the abuse of due process of law. A statute that prescribes death penalty as a punishment for any offence, enables Judges and Magistrates to take the life of a person in the name of due process of law.
  5. Death Penalty is further violative of the maxim ‘audi alteram partem’ to an extent as the person who is executed, did not get the fair opportunity to represent himself before the Court and justify the reversal of his conviction.
  6. The International Law regime also does not support death penalty. Death penalty, as a punishment in the national legislations, disregards the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Though the USA is not a party to the Second Optional Protocol, it will be in the interest of its citizens and will display its commitment to secure human rights within its territorial jurisdiction.

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Conclusion

Death Penalty is nothing less than State-sponsored terrorism. Judges and Magistrates are the authorities responsible to ensure the smooth conduct of State-sponsored terrorism in the name of death penalty.

It’s high-time that all states in the world must become party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and denounce the use of death penalty. Death Penalty deserves to be denounced also on the ground that it is cruel and inhuman.

Death Penalty, as a practice, is violative of the basic Right to Life and Dignity. Furthermore, it has served no useful purpose. Awarding death penalty did not work according to the deterrent theory of punishment. It did not aid in reducing the number of crimes being committed.

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[1] 408 U.S. 238 (1972)

[2] 428 U.S. 153 (1976)

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] 481 US 279 (1981)

[6] Ibid.

[7] 543 US 551 (2005)

[8] 492 U.S. 361 (1989)

[9] 433 US 584 (1977)

[10] 554 US 407 (2008)

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Analysis of Indirect Tax Laws in India, U.S.A & U.A.E

By: Vedika Arora

Indirect Tax Laws In India

Introduction –

 The Indirect taxes in India comprises a gathering of assessment laws and guidelines. The roundabout duties in India are authorised upon various exercises including assembling, exchanging and imports. Indirect tax impact all the business lines in India. Charge imposed by the State on utilisation, consumption, advantage, or right however not on pay or property. The roundabout assessment framework in India has gone through broad changes for over twenty years. Quite possibly the main explanations behind ongoing expense changes in many creating and momentary economies has been to advance a duty framework to meet the prerequisites of worldwide rivalry.

Features of Indirect Tax Laws –

 An indirect tax is one in which the weight can be moved to other people. The tax payer isn’t the tax carrier. The effect and occurrence of indirect taxes are on various people. An indirect tax is exacted on and gathered from an individual who figures out how to give it to some other individual or people on whom the genuine weight of tax falls. For instance ware taxes or deals tax, extract obligation, custom obligations, and so forth are indirect taxes.

Advantages of Indirect Tax Laws –  

1- Advantageous: Indirect taxes are forced on creation, deal and developments of products and enterprises. These are forced on producers, merchants and dealers, however their weight might be moved to buyers of products and ventures who are the last taxpayers. Such taxes, as greater costs, are paid distinctly on acquisition of an item or the pleasure in an administration. So taxpayers don’t feel the weight of these taxes. Also, cash weight of indirect taxes isn’t totally felt since the tax sum is really covered up in the cost of the product purchased. They are additionally advantageous on the grounds that for the most part they are paid in limited quantities and at stretches and are not in one single amount. They are helpful from the perspective of the public authority additionally, since the tax sum is gathered by and large as a single amount from makers or brokers.

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2- Hard to Evade: Indirect taxes have in-constructed shields against tax avoidance. The indirect taxes are paid by clients, and the venders need to gather it and dispatch it to the Government. On account of numerous items, the selling cost is comprehensive of indirect taxes. Thusly, the client has no choice to dodge the indirect taxes.

3- Wide Coverage: Unlike direct taxes, the indirect taxes have a wide inclusion. Larger part of the items or administrations are dependent upon indirect taxes. The shoppers or clients of such items and administrations need to pay them.

4- Flexible: Some of the indirect taxes are versatile in nature. At the point when government feels it important to build its incomes, it expands these taxes. In the midst of thriving indirect taxes produce colossal incomes to the public authority.

5- All inclusiveness: Indirect taxes are paid by all classes of individuals thus they are wide based. Needy individuals might be out of the net of the annual tax, yet they cover indirect taxes while purchasing merchandise.

6- Effect on Pattern of Production: By forcing taxes on specific wares or areas, the public authority can accomplish better portion of assets. For instance by forcing taxes on extravagance products and making them more costly, government can redirect assets from these areas to area creating fundamental merchandise.

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7- May not influence inspiration to work and save: The indirect taxes may not influence the inspiration to work and to save. Since, a large portion of the indirect taxes are not reformist in nature, people may wouldn’t fret to pay them. At the end of the day, indirect taxes are for the most part backward in nature. Subsequently, people would not be demotivated to work and to save, which may expand venture.

8- Social Welfare: The indirect taxes advance social government assistance. The sum gathered via taxes is used by the public authority for social government assistance exercises, including training, wellbeing and family government assistance. Furthermore, exceptionally high taxes are forced on the utilisation of unsafe items, for example, alcoholic items, tobacco items, and such different items. So it isn’t just to check their utilization yet additionally empowers the state to gather significant income thusly.

9- Adaptability and Buoyancy: The indirect taxes are more adaptable and light. Adaptability is the capacity of the tax framework to produce proportionately higher tax income with an adjustment in tax base, and lightness is a more extensive idea, as it includes the capacity of the tax framework to create proportionately higher tax income with an adjustment in tax base, just as tax rates

Indirect Tax Laws in U.S.A

 Kinds of indirect taxes (VAT/GST and other indirect taxes) –

The United States (US) doesn’t have a public deals tax framework. Or maybe, indirect taxes are forced on a sub-public level. Each state has the position to force its own deals and use tax, subject to US established limitations. In numerous states, nearby purviews (for example urban areas and districts) likewise force deals and use taxes.

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Are there other indirect taxes –

Contingent upon the locale, taxpayers might be dependent upon local charges, extract taxes, media transmission taxes and overcharges, permit to operate duties and unclaimed property-announcing prerequisites.

 What exchanges are dependent upon deals and use taxes –

By and large, exchanges including deals of “substantial individual property” and select administrations are liable to tax. States have changing meanings of unmistakable individual property. Various states additionally tax advanced merchandise (for example advanced sound works, digital books, web based video). Most states limit the tax to administrations explicitly specified by rule. Be that as it may, a couple of states tax practically all administrations.

Who is needed to enrol for deals and use taxes –

Ordinarily, every individual or element that is occupied with the business ― as characterised by the taxing state ― of selling substantial individual property at retail, or outfitting any taxable assistance, should enrol with the state to acquire a business tax permit, grant or testament prior to making deals or offering types of assistance. What includes as taking part in business shifts from state to state.

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States are advancing toward deciding if a dealer is occupied with business in the state dependent on monetary edges, for example, yearly volume of deals or number of exchanges (for example more than 100,000 US dollars (USD) of in-state deals or more than 200 in-state exchanges). This is the consequence of 2018 US Supreme Court choice South Dakota v. Wayfair[1], which overruled a previous court choice disallowing states from forcing a business tax assortment commitment on a dealer except if the merchant had a “actual presence” in the state. Effectively, 24 states will have monetary edges basically by 1 January 2019 and more are relied upon to before long follow.

Indirect Tax Laws in U.A.E

Introduction –

The United Arab Emirates is an organisation of seven emirates, with self-governing emirate and neighbourhood governments. The United Arab Emirates doesn’t have any government annual tax. An annual tax order has been established by every Emirate, except practically speaking, the implementation of these declarations is confined to unfamiliar banks and to oil organisations.

The UAE government actualized Value Added Tax (VAT) which is also known as Indirect tax in the nation from January 1, 2018 at a standard pace of 5%.

The VAT is value added tax by going into this understanding the GCC nations began forcing VAT at a pace of 5 percent on certain products and ventures. Wellbeing and training are absolved from the VAT. Presently individuals in the GCC need to pay a VAT of 5 % percent on food, vehicles and different excitements.

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In Saudi Arabia and in UAE the VAT framework has begun easily these two nations had just fulfilled the time constraint of VAT settlement in the year 2018 and other part nations are as yet on the run. Bahrain is the solitary GCC nation who had not presented the VAT. Despite the fact that the execution of VAT has been done easily in two nations yet in the business, numerous issues are emerging as they are confounded that how to apply the VAT framework in products and enterprises predominantly in the Free Trade zone of these nations.

 Registration for Indirect Tax in U.A.E –

 A business should enlist for VAT if their taxable supplies and imports surpass the required enrolment limit of AED 375,000. Besides, a business may decide to enlist for VAT deliberately if their provisions and imports are not exactly the required enrolment limit, however surpass the wilful enrolment edge of AED 187,500. Also, a business may enlist intentionally if their costs surpass the wilful enrolment limit. This last chance to enrol intentionally is intended to empower new companies with no turnover to enlist for VAT.

 Sectors in V.A.T implementation –

 Land and development industry are a tremendous significance for the GCC nations since it gives numerous advantages like supporting countless occupations, giving private spots to live which is one kind of revenue for the GCC nations and it additionally builds up an area. By presenting the VAT by GCC nations it doesn’t make any issue to the land and the development fields future venture. It’s a positive methodology by the public authority to make the land and development field to add to the government assistance of the state. Since a huge amount of cash is coming from this field. Supply of land is taxable at a standard rate in GCC.

The Tourism business contributes an immense aggregate to the Gulf economy and it gives numerous occasions to singular visit administrators in the GCC. However, the principle challenge which they face is the way to actualise VAT. This industry is a blend of different areas which incorporates carriers, visit administrators, travel planners, convenience, etc, so by the presentation of VAT in this industry will influence each by either way.

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The oil area assumes a significant part in the Gulf nations. Numerous worldwide oil and gas organisations are in the nations. Business in the area incorporates global, public, and other oil organisations. Tank execution will make an enormous effect on this industry. There is unpredictability in the field of oil and gas industry and by the presentation of VAT in the GCC should be given thought in organisations. Every single industry in the Gulf nations is for sure is influenced by the execution of VAT and the more influenced field is the travel industry since it includes different areas of business.

 

[1] South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. 585 U.S138 S. Ct. 2080; 201 L.. Ed. 403

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Role of Mergers and Acquisitions in boosting the Indian Economy

By: Vansh Ved

Introduction

Mergers, the amalgamation or blending of two equal-sized companies, or one economically weaker with another stronger, or one holding strong distribution network with a weaker one, or any other possible permutation of two distinct entities coming together to form a whole new identity and corporation. This amalgamation is generally done for either financial purposes or strategic ones. An acquisition on the other hand is a takeover or acquiring of one entity by another which either occurs as a friendly or a hostile transaction. A company takes over majority stake and/or resources of the target company and makes its decisions with the goal to forward the acquiring company’s interests.

A company thinks of merging or acquiring for a plethora of reasons: Growth of the business, Financial inadequacy for bigger operations, monopolizing the market, acquiring patented innovation or technology, or even tax evasions and benefits. A merger or acquisition is generally an expensive process to go through for any party to a merger. Accountancy, taxes, finances, shares, permissions, legalities, dues, etc. are a part of this tedious procedure. Yet, companies choose to merge. The principle of 2+2 = 5 attracts the idea of joining forces and making the best product of the two companies that are doing fairly well but probably not growing. India, has seen a boom of these mergers and acquisitions in the past couple of decades since governments liberalized laws regarding monopolies and restrictive trade practices. The years 2014, 2016 and 2018 particularly stood out in terms of the value of M&A transactions across India. The total value of the mergers in 2018 even crossed the 100-billion-dollar mark.

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Private players, quite obviously look to maximize profits through M&A transactions and it’s been proven statistically that quite often they achieve their goals. But there is another aspect or perspective of viewing this transaction too; the market’s perspective. Not just the market’s perspective, but the timing, the situation, the impact, the share and its future is important for the simple reason that the economy is directly affected by it. We will cover, in this article, the economic analysis of mergers and acquisitions.

The economic perspective of Mergers and Acquisitions

A merger of two giant organizations has either of the two consequences; wiping out of the competition completely, or marginalizing it so much by the power of the two companies’ technology, customer base, financial resources etc. that it goes out of business or enters a lower rung of the competition soon. This monopolization of a market has many consequences of its own too. Price mark ups, price manipulation, complete control over output and supply, and lack of substitutes are a part of the market once a monopoly like situation is established. The corporation and its shareholders might be the ones making the profit but it is generally the consumer who faces the music of such deals. The amalgamated new entity is powerful enough to increase the prices, control the supply as well as the demand as the entire customer base depends on it. However, a monopoly resulting from a merger can also have a positive impact on the costs and finances on which the companies used to function. If regulated by the government through supportive and at the same time, restrictive laws, monopolies can result in efficient production at fair prices, which is a key boosting factor of a country’s economy.

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Mergers can lead to economies of scale, i.e., lower average costs and other cost reductions and benefits which occur as a consequence of large-scale operations which tend to make production more efficient. It can also lead to increased research and operations in the direction of growth of the industry which is enabled by the additional funds generated by the combined profits. It prevents an unprofitable yet potentially strong business from shutting down.

A Merger can also be seen as a transfer of resources. A transfer from one, lesser capable and profitable to the more independent, firm and profitable one. This allocation of resources and avoidance of the wastage of a certain amount of manpower, machinery, product line or even talent, is a highly economical transaction. Some critics of acquisitions say that it “creates” unemployment. This couldn’t be more far from the truth as what is actually happening is that when the target company is on the verge of failing and shutting down completely, the acquirer in fact takes over the control of the target company hence saving the total loss accompanied with a 100% layoff which would’ve taken place had the acquired company been running with the same obsolete resources and weaker financial support.

Apart from a scenario where a merger or amalgamation results in a monopoly, when two good players of the market merge, the competitiveness of the market automatically tenses up. This often results in a drop in prices due to more competition and even higher productivity. Consumers benefit highly due to such a situation. India is going through a phase of unemployment as never seen before. M&A deals can help a corporation grow and set up multiple offices and operations in all parts of India and thus aid in creating more skilled employment.

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A huge potential of the Indian Economy gets wasted when foreign firms enter the Indian markets and acquire Indian companies, through either friendly or hostile takeovers, which are going through a financially and economically tough time. Mergers of two Indian companies or acquisition of a foreign firm by an Indian company can drastically improve the condition and situation of Indian firms in the international markets. Consequently, our position in the foreign exchange also improves due to a bigger market share and more exports, due to better production.

An ideology to keep in mind while counting the benefits of M&A deals is that the Indian Economy is massive in its scale and is always looking for investments in sectors such as textile, agriculture, education, clothing, technology and automobiles. When two firms of the same industry merge, or either one of them acquires the other, it aids in a bigger investment in research and development, technology, machinery and retail (marketing as well as sales). When two corporations from different industries merge or acquire, it is generally purely a search for an investment opportunity and an amalgamation of any type gives the opportunity to find a credible investment which even diversifies their business and enables boosting of the other industry by infusing more capital.

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NBFCs in India are going through a rather difficult time and they are in need of some radical changes. Mergers could help them in several ways, ease in taxation being one of them. A bigger corporation formed as a result of two struggling non-banking companies merging, is a stronger entity, gets tax benefits and has more resources. Mergers can help boost the economy in several ways such as this. In such cases, it is a solution to lack of resources, limited supply and reach and a sort of a legitimate cheat code against heavy taxations.

Types of Mergers and the difference in their impacts

There are several different types of mergers and acquisitions. Conglomerate, concentric, reverse mergers etc., friendly or hostile takeovers and several types of other combinations, like leveraged buyouts, divestitures, consolidations, etc. Some of the best ways to combine businesses are as follows:

Conglomerate mergers:

These mergers occur between two companies whose lines of business are completely different. They run their business in completely different industries and merge or acquire either of them to diversify their line of business for more profit as well as security. In today’s market, the predictability of the success of any industry is close to impossible due to a plethora of factors affecting the market. Hence, having a running business in a whole another area, sometimes proves to be a boon for a single industry business. Reliance Industries as well tata is a prime example of diversification of business through acquiring several companies and growing their outreach as well ensuring profitability in some or the other industry. Such mergers are also a blessing to the economy as it helps entities grow and diversify their business thereby ensuring they do not run out of resources or suffer due to lack of variety in their line of products. It also builds a solid brand name, possibly globally. L&T (an engineering firm) and Voltas (an air conditioning company) is a great example of a conglomerate merger.

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Vertical Mergers:

This type of a merger occurs between two entities working in the same industry per se but at fundamentally different levels. An example of this kind of a merger could be the merger of a clothing brand and a textile factory. This way, the manufacturer and the seller could come together as one and improve the flow and communication of the business. Sometimes, even manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods acquire a company with a good distribution channel to facilitate a good flow of products and to improve marketing. Vertical mergers are good for the companies merging as well as the economy. They give a sense of stability to a company’s quality, raw material supply and distribution. Reliance (a multi-billion-dollar group of industries) and FLAG Telcom (a communication service provider) is a vertical merger where Reliance acquired the latter to get bigger into the telecommunications business and thus gain a stable source of network transport.

However, some types of mergers have proved to be detrimental for the economy and are rarely encouraged. An example of such mergers is a horizontal merger.

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Horizontal mergers occur between companies operating in the same line of business as well as at the same level in the chain.  A recent example of a merger of this kind is Lipton Tea India and Brooke Bond. An article by Harvard Business review [1] showed that horizontal mergers usually end up creating a monopoly-like market which has more downsides than benefits for the economy.

The review suggests that the effects of a horizontal merger are much more than any other kind. They often lead to price markups which are mostly arbitrary and have a negative impact on fair pricing for the customer base. Statistics have also shown that two firms of the same industry merging have evidently not shown any improvements in either productivity or economy of the market around them.

Case Studies

The most relevant as well as recent merger that helped save two companies and at the same time was effective in improving competition in the Telcom industry in India, was the Vodafone-Idea merger. Vodafone, formerly India’s second largest telecommunications company was under a debt close to 9000 crores in the year 2017. Idea, formerly the third largest player in the industry was also under a huge debt around the same time. The moment Reliance Jio entered the market, both companies were about to lose their assets and were on the verge of bankruptcy. Had they gone bankrupt; it would have created a semi-monopoly like situation for Airtel and Jio. This would have made calling and internet services in India, more expensive than ever. But both companies decided to merge. The Vodafone-Idea merger was valued at about $12.5 billion. This merger avoided a possible monopolistic market from existing and kept in control prices of Telcom services.

Indian firms in the last 5 years have been bold in acquiring several foreign companies, thus growing rapidly internationally too. Byju’s acquired Osmo, OYO rooms acquired the Leisure Group, Zomato took over UrbanSpoon and many other such Acquisitions have taken place recently. Tata Motors’ acquisition of Range Rover and Jaguar was probably one of the most remarkable acquisitions in India’s automobile industry’s history. Tata Motors, a mid-segment car company with adequate finance, took over two premium car brands and put itself back on the map in the automobile industry. Such acquisitions have massively helped in coping with unemployment in this industry. These foreign companies also bring a huge potential for technological development with them.

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Conclusion

A good merger can boost the economy of an industry as well as the market in ways it never can. Employment, R&D, increased capital flow, increased returns to shareholders and endless opportunities of growth. Mergers and acquisitions have proved to be a blessing to the companies struggling to stay in the market without totally selling out to the big players who have big pockets. A merger helps raise more capital and hence encourages the longevity of such businesses. All in all, a merger’s positive effects on the Indian Economy, far outweigh the ill effects of it in the long run.

 

[1] https://hbr.org/2016/11/mergers-may-be-profitable-but-are-they-good-for-the-economy

Categories
Blog Intellectual Property Law

Analysis of Laws relating to Patents in India, U.S.A. and U.K.

By: Siddharth Sutaria

1.1.WHAT IS PATENT?

Patents were one of the first types of intellectual property to be recognized in modern legal systems. Today, patented inventions pervade every aspect of life, from electric lighting (patents held by Edison and Swan) to the iPhone (patents held by Apple).

Patents are a form of IP used to protect a product or process that is new, involves an inventive step and has some form of industrial utility.

Patents are concerned with the protection of an invention.

By patenting an invention, the patent owner gets exclusive rights over it, meaning that he or she can stop anyone from using, making or selling the invention without permission. The patent lasts for a limited period of time, generally 20 years. In return, the patent owner has to disclose full details of the invention in the published patent documents. Once the period of protection has come to an end, the invention becomes off patent, meaning anyone is free to make, sell or use it.

1.2.WHAT TYPE OF INVENTIONS ARE PATENTABLE?

PATENTABLE SUBJECT MATTER:

In order to be eligible for patent protection, an invention must fall under ARTICLE 27.1 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT. Provided that, subject to certain exception or conditions under that agreement, patents shall be available for any invention, whether products or processes, in all fields of technology, provided that they are new, involve an inventive step and are capable of an industrial application.[1]To qualify for patent protection, an invention must be of some practical use and must offer something new which is not part of the existing body of knowledge in the relevant technical field (what lawyers call the prior art). But these requirements of utility and novelty are not enough; the invention must also involve an inventive step – something non-obvious that could not just have been deduced by someone with average knowledge of the technical field.[2]

Furthermore, the invention must not fall under non- patentable subject matter, such as,

  • A mere idea (e.g., law of nature or principle) without application are not patentable.
  • Pure mathematical algorithms (e.g., E = mc2) are not patentable.
  • An inoperable device (e.g., Perpetual Motion Machine) are not patentable.
  • An obvious improvement of an old device is not patentable.

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PATENT LAWS IN INDIA, USA AND UK

2.1. INDIA

The recognition and enforcement of patent rights in India is principally governed by the Patents Act 1970 and the rules issued under the Act. The Act has been amended several times and was substantially amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act 2005 to bring the Indian patent regime into line with the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 1994 (TRIPs).

The latest amendment to the Patents (Amendment) Rules 2019 came into force on 17 September 2019 to ease the procedural rules concerning e-filing of documents under which original documents will be required only on being requested by the Patent office. The amendment also expanded the eligibility criteria for expedited examination of applications under the Patents Act, 1970 to include applicants such as small entities, government departments, and government-funded bodies and so on.

Court decisions are a relevant source of patent law in India. Indian courts also rely on decisions of both European and US courts as sources of patent law. In the last couple of years, Indian courts have adjudicated on a number of substantive patent law issues, including:

  • Infringement (Merck Sharpe and Dohme Corporation v Glenmark)[3]; F Hoffman La Roche v Cipla Ltd.)[4]
  • Patentability (Novartis v Union of India)[5]; Merck Sharpe and Dohme Corporation v Glenmark[6]; F. Hoffman La Roche v Cipla Ltd.[7]).
  • Fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory licensing (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson v Intex Technologies[8]; Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson v M/s Best IT World (India) Pvt Ltd (iBall)[9].).
  • Permissibility of exports under the Indian Bolar Exemption (Bayer Corporation v Union of India & Ors. LPA No. 359/2017 and Bayer Intellectual Property GMBH & Anr. v Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd.)[10]
  • Grant of patent for computer programs (Ferid Allani v Union of India).[11]

The Indian Patent Act, 1970 holds that a mere discovery of a new form of a known substance or the mere discovery of a new use of a known substance would not be patentable.[12] India being a party to the TRIPS Agreement expressly incorporates within its domestic legislation the ‘Patentable Subject Matter’, enumerated in Article 27 of the TRIPS Agreement, which reads as: “Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3, patents shall be available for any inventions, whether products or processes, in all fields of technology, provided that they are new, involve an inventive step and are capable of industrial application[13] which indicates the qualification of the Novelty-Utility-Non Obviousness test.

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“Invention” means a new product or process involving an inventive step and capable of industrial application[14]. A bare perusal of the definition clearly shows that even a process involving an inventive step in an invention within the meaning of the Act. It is, therefore, not necessary that the product developed should be a totally new product. Even if a product is substantially improved by an inventive step, it would be termed an invention[15]. What is to be noted here is that patents are not only given on “new inventions” but also on “inventions” as defined in the Patents Act, 1970.

Patent protection cannot be obtained for a “mere idea”[16]. The principle of Patent Law is that an idea or discovery as such is not patentable. It neither forms a part of prior art or technique. It is the practical application of the idea or discovery that leads to patentability.

Inventive step is a feature of an invention that involves technical as compared to the existing knowledge or having economic significance or both and that makes an invention not obvious to a person skilled in the art. To meet the inventive step, there has to be a technical advancement or economic significance or both. The requirement of technical advancements, therefore, diluted and compromised by the fact that a patent could simply be granted on economic significance alone.[17]

2.2.UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Under United States law, a patent is a right granted to the inventor of a (1) process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, (2) that is new, useful, and non-obvious. A patent is the right to exclude others, for a limited time (usually, 20 years) from profiting of a patented technology without the consent of the patent-holder. Specifically, it is the right to exclude others from: making, using, selling, offering for sale, importing, inducing others to infringe, applying for an FDA approval, and/or offering a product specially adapted for practice of the patent.[18]

United States patent law is codified in Title 35 of the United States Code, and authorized by the U.S. Constitution, in Article One, section 8, clause 8, which states:

The Congress shall have power … To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.[19]

The first US Patent statute was enacted with the object entitled “An Act to promote the Progress of Useful Arts”. It was a short Act that contained seven sections and specified the basic requirement to include “any useful art, manufacture, engine, machine or device, or any improvement therein not before known or used”.

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After U.S. became the member of the Paris Convention, there were two developments in U.S. influencing the development of patent law, the Sherman Act of 1890 and the Evarts Act of 1891. In 1952, the structure of modern patent law was adopted and since then, several amendments have been made. The Patent law is Title 35 of the United States Code which governs all cases in the USPTO.

2.3. UNITED KINGDOM

In Europe, two patent systems co-exist. Under the European Patent Organization (EPO & EPOrg) patents are granted which may cover up to 38 European states including the United Kingdom. The provisions for grant of patents in U.K. can be considered from the U.K. Patents Act 1977 (As amended) and also from the EPC (European Patent Convention).

The UK has legal systems in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, but the Patent law on the necessary changes is the same for everyone. There are two ways to obtain patent protection in the UK which includes filing in national patent offices and filing a single European patent at the European Patent Office in Munich defining those countries where the patent is protected. The latter machine offers great cost benefits to those who are patented.

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Patent enforcement in the UK means that the owner must continue to see the laws of each country where the patent is registered. The patent system in the UK is expensive and the results of the enforcement plan may not be consistent but the system is complete and therefore very effective in eliminating flawed patents.[20]

It is also important to note the availability of threat actions and cost penalties to deter the casual assertion of weak claims. A peculiarity of the European patent system is that once the patent is granted by the European patent office it transforms to local patents in each of the signatory countries that were designated in the application.

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COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

3.1. SIMILARITIES IN PATENT LAWS OF INDIA, USA AND UK

Patent laws in India, USA and UK are very similar as they all grant developers certain rights for a specified period of time in exchange for their disclosure in relation to the established production method. The legal systems of the USA, UK and India have some of the same characteristics which are the general requirements of Novelty, Non-transparency / initiative to create and use inventions that must be patented. The basic principles of Patent law are generally the same worldwide; the difference lies mainly in the processes of each program.

Although a few aspects of patent law have been harmonized internationally, there are still many significant differences between the processes followed in the USA, UK and India discussed in this study.

3.2. DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE PATENT LAWS OF INDIA, USA AND UK

In UK [Article 60 of the EPC] and India[Section 2(y), 6 and 7 of the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005], the first to have filed the patent application are considered as the inventor which means that the filing date is what is considered and is given the first priority even if a second person comes up with the invention before the first. Which in case of USA, in case of two or more applications for the same invention a determination is made as to who invented it first. If two or more applications are filed by different inventors claiming substantially the same patentable invention a proceeding known as an “interference” is instituted by the USPTO to determine who is the first inventor and entitled to the patent. (35 U.S.C. Section 135) provided that the patent has not been issued, nor the application been published, for more than one year prior to the filing of the conflicting application, and provided also that the conflicting application is not barred from being patentable for some other reason. However, the first applicant to file has the prima facie right to the grant of a patent, but if the second patent application is been filed for the same invention, the second applicant can lodge interference proceedings to determine who was the first inventor and thereby who is entitled to the grant of a patent.Thus in the US, the patent goes to the first to invent and not to the first to file. Every Patent Office in the world is based on a “first to file” system.

US has a one-year grace period (35 US Code Section 102). This means that the inventor can publish his invention 1 year before filing the patent without losing patent rights. However, if the inventor discloses his or her own work more than 1 year before the filing of the patent application, then he/she is barred from obtaining a patent.Whilst in UK [Article 54 EPC] and India [Sections 2(l), 29, 30 and 31 of the Patents (amendment) Act, 2005], the one-year grace period is absent. If an inventor makes his/her work public a year before he files a patent for the said work, he/sheautomatically loses all potential patent rights.

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The patent for a business method is an important point of distinction between the USA, the UK and India. Business method patents are not owned and have never been patented in the UK or any other country in Europe and in India business methods are not patented individually but can be patented if the new approach seeks to resolve the technical problem and is naturally structured. Or, in the case of the USA, patents for business methods are valid as long as it is more than just the implementation of a well-known business process.

India, USA and UK have a similar situation with patent applications i.e., patent applications are published 18 months after the date of submission, unless they have been issued. The only difference is that, in the UK and India they cannot apply for non-publication.

In the UK, once a patent has been granted, anyone has the right to oppose it within nine months of the grant. If a Patent is found to be invalid, it is revoked in all countries at the same time. Indian Patent Law only applies to patent disputes where the patent application was published but before the patent was granted. While the USA has a re-examination process that is different from that of the opposition party. In re-examination, anyone can submit reasons and evidence to the USPTO to challenge the validity of a patent granted.

3.3.CONCLUSION

This paper aims to shed light on the most common patent systems in India, the UK and the US and identifies significant similarities and differences between similarities.

By carefully examining the patent laws of the USA, India and the UK, it can be said that the patent process in India is almost identical to that of the UK and differs from that of the USA. Almost every country has its own Patent Law, and if you wish to apply for a Patent in a certain country, you must apply for a Patent in that country, depending on the needs of that country. Patent laws do not apply internationally.

Overall, efforts should be made to bring in patent laws of different countries in order to overcome errors, unfair advantages and lacunae in relation to certain areas of law. This is an important step in raising profits for founders around the world.

 

[1]Intellectual Property- Law and Management by Rodney D Ryder.

[2]https://www.wipo.int/publications/en/details.jsp?id=4528

[3]CS(OS) 586/2013 judgment dated 7 October 2015.

[4]RFA(OS) 92/2012, judgment dated 27 November 2015.

[5](2013) 6 SCC 1.

[6]supra

[7] supra

[8]Cs(Os) No.1045/2014, judgment dated 13 March 2015.

[9]CS (OS) 2501/2015, judgment dated 2 September 2015.

[10]RFA(OS)(COMM) 6/2017 (March 22, 2019), Division Bench of the Delhi High Court (Bayer cases).

[11]  2019 SCC Del 11867.

[12] Commission of Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) Report of September, 2002.

[13] Article 27, TRIPS Agreement.

[14] Section 2 (1) (j), Patents Act, 1970.

[15] Dhanpat Seth v. Nil Kamal Plastic Crates Ltd., 2008 (36) P.T.C. 123 (H.P.) (D.B.).

[16] IBM Corp.’s Appln., [1980] F.S.R. 568.

[17] Ram NarainKher v. Ambassador Industries, New Delhi, A.I.R. 1976 Del 87

[18]35 U.S.C.A. § 154(a)(2).

[19]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_patent_law#cite_note-1

[20] International Patent Law, ISBN 978-1-587-62382-0, Lucas Bateman, Cobbetts Solicitors, Leeds.

 

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Categories
Blog

Impact of Covid-19 on Real Estate Laws in India and Canada

By:- Shubham Tiwari

Expressing his opinion over the possible impact of the outbreak, Samantak Das, Executive Director and Head of Research, REIS, JLL, says, “The COVID-19 situation remains volatile, and uncertainty still looms on the possible economic impact of the outbreak. Global supply chains across domains will be disrupted in the short-term. We are already experiencing a slump in the hospitality industry due to flight cancellations. Moreover, the plunge is already being reflected in the delayed business decisions by developers to lease. While the commercial sector has remained on a strong foothold, investors will adopt a wait-and-watch approach in the near future.”

  1. Absence of a force majeure clause– there must be a force majeure clause in the agreement in order for a party to invoke force majeure. If there is no such clause and an event has made the performance of a party’s obligations impossible, such party may be able to rely on the doctrine of frustration. Case law on this doctrine is sparse and careful consideration must be given to the facts. In the leasing context, the payment of rent is usually carved out of force majeure clause, in which case, tenants are still obligated to pay their rent.
  1. Rent deferral strategies – commercial landlords and tenants have adopted various strategies to address situations where tenants are not able to pay rent. While simple deferral or abatements are commonly known solutions, other tenant-specific solutions include converting tenant inducements into rent abatement and revisiting percentage rent. Available relief should be taken into account, including business interruption insurance and government programs.
  1. Transactions are still being completed – loan agreements are being revised to address current challenges by considering more frequent reporting requirements and forbearance, for example. Acquisitions and dispositions are closing smoothly with the effective use of technology and, in some provinces, title insurance.
  1. Collaboration is key – in some cases, strict enforcement of contractual rights may not possible, practically speaking, and positive outcomes can be achieved through collaboration. A tenant’s financial position or physical distancing guidelines may make it impossible for tenants or landlords to perform some of their obligations under a lease and litigation may not resolve the issue. Current court closures are another incentive for parties to collaborate in finding arrangements.

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China and the real estate connection

China has been a manufacturing and construction giant for many years now. COVID-19, a flu-like epidemic which originated from Wuhan, had directly affected the construction and other economic activities in China initially. However, it has now engulfed almost every country on earth and the death toll has surpassed 2.5 lakh.

The threat started with extended lunar holidays and official advice of staying at home. However, the severity of COVID-19 was greater than a flu and it has claimed thousands of lives both in China and the rest of the world. Interestingly, China has started to recover from the pandemic and limping back to normalcy.

If the direct effect on the construction industry is considered, Japanese earthmoving equipment manufacturers have experienced a visible dip in the use of its machines in the construction activities in China and across the world.

The major allied industries helping the construction and real estate across the world are iron ore and steel industry. To check the spread of the virus, China has officially closed two-third of its production lines. The lockdown of fourteen provinces, including the manufacturing hub of Hubei, where Wuhan is located, has hit the supply of essential construction material to the importing countries.

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The scale of impact can be gauged from the fact that the locked-down regions constitute 90 percent of China’s copper smelting industry, 60 percent of steel manufacturing, and 40 percent of the coal output.

Global upheaval

The devastating downward spiral of Dow Jones and a virtual halt of air travel has contributed to a plummeting US economy. Being called a ‘COVID-19 recession’, the economic impact is estimated to erode 0.7 percent of the US GDP over the next quarter. That too if the virus is contained (or at least tamed) in the next three months. However, as a result of extensive efforts by the Government, over 50 percent of the construction projects in New York and nearby areas are anticipated to resume construction by July 2020.

According to a research report by Bain and Company, a forced lockdown of two months could result in the US losing a quarter of all business establishments (amounting to $4 trillion). Even USA’s close neighbour Canada is heading towards a recession and COVID-19 (coupled with plunging oil prices) is a big culprit here. Special monetary packages to the tune of billions of dollars are adding burden to the ailing economies.

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In fact, a COVID-19-induced reduced economic activity is predicted to be affecting the housing market of Australia as well. Rising unemployment and delayed building approvals indicate a slump in the construction sector.

In addition to this, the whole of Europe is severely hit by the deadly virus. The ever-increasing tally of infections has virtually pushed Italy and Spain into a forced countrywide shutdown. Already hit by recessionary economic activity, Italy is reeling under a severely downtrodden healthcare system. It reported almost a quarter of total new cases in the whole of Europe. Spain is also down with over 2,41,550 cases

Added to this list is Russian federation. The rate at which the infection is spreading in Russia is indicative of a shattered economic scenario for Europe. The recent disaster of oil-spill in the Arctic rivers is another blow to the country’s economy and health as the clean-up would cost hundreds of dollars over the next decade.

If we look at the global commercial real estate scenario, a report by JLL suggests that the investment will remain slow. The reasons are directly and indirectly related to the Coronavirus crisis. Locked down cities, strict social distancing norms and travel restrictions would continue delaying the investment decisions across the globe. However, another report depicts a brighter future for the commercial sector.

According to a report by Savills, the post-COVID-19 scenario will provide a fresh start to the commercial real estate, particularly in India. As commercial property gives an average rental yield of 6 to 10 percent as against a residential property, which gives an average rental yield of 1.5 to three percent, the commercial segment will remain a hot favourite of investors, and it will continue to attract Private Equity (PE) investment.

A positive trend is that technology is being used extensively to connect parties and bridge gaps towards productivity and engagement in real estate. However, the uncertainty related to the duration of the pandemic will maintain barriers, and the recovery will depend on how countries deal with the pandemic.

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While the investors across the globe have deferred the decisions regarding new acquisitions, some high net worth institutions might go ahead with the decision, keeping a long term horizon in perspective. However, credit arrangement can be a challenge for investors. According to a report by CBRE, construction lending is facing more challenges than the overall financial markets. Due to social distancing norms and uncertainties across construction timelines, lenders and underwriters are being conservative and highly selective towards borrowers across the world.

A cause of concern is the case of Singapore. The country was one of the least affected initially, but due to an incoming wave of resident citizens, the country has got severely embroiled in the growing number of COVID-19 cases. It is also harmful from the housing business perspective as Singapore is one of the leading investors in real estate markets of Asia-pacific.

Overall, the economic cost of COVID-19 infection is still being measured, but the calamity will cost the world economy in millions of dollars, and more importantly, a precious human capital.

The impact back home

Uncertainty is not good for development. The tide of speculations surrounding possible ill effects of the COVID-19 spread is delaying investment decisions, especially coming from the eastern countries. According to a report by Colliers Research, the decisions over commercial real estate acquisition are expected to be delayed due to coronavirus scare, especially by the occupiers who depend on overseas clearances from Asia.
The impact is primarily indirect and can be gauged from the following points –

  • Almost 28 percent of the total investment in Indian real estate came from Singapore, Hong Kong, and China in 2019. In fact, the United Nations (UN) is predicting that India is at risk of facing an immediate trade loss of approximately Rs 2,510 crore.
  • As the supply chains from China will remain constrained, finding newer markets for the supply and even achieving self-sufficiency will take time and hence, India might face reduced economic activity.
  • Commercial real estate market will be more impacted as it is a slow mover. If the virus keeps impacting the economic supply chains for longer terms than expected, the commercial investment decisions may take a backseat.
  • A flight of capital can be expected as the investors would tilt towards a more stable bond market for investment.
  • Financial markets are also sensitive to the spread, and the recent crash of the Indian stock market is a sign of growing anticipation of further decline in investor’s sentiment.
  • As exports from China will decline, the cost advantage on account of cheaper supply from China will take a hit and would directly affect the profit margins of the real estate developers.
  • National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) has opined that the real estate sector could see rates falling by more than 20 percent in the coming quarter.
  • Tourism is one of the worst affected areas, and the ongoing travel bans have hit the hospitality industry and the earning potential of businesses dependent on tourism across India.
  • The IMF has revised the global GDP estimates from 3.3 percent three months ago to a contraction of 3.3 percent, something not seen after the great depression of 1930s.
  • With the Coronavirus crisis affecting the Indian economy for over three months, approximate weighing of losses has started. According to a report by KPMG, the consequent losses of COVID-19 pandemic to the Indian real estate sector is estimated to be Rs 1 lakh crore by the end of the financial year 2020-21.
  • The KPMG report also points towards a significant reduction in the sale of residential units. As per the report, the credit crunch emanating from the pandemic situation will contract residential sales and bring down the numbers from 4 lakh units in 2019-20 to 2.8 lakh units across the top seven cities in 2020-21.
  • A recent report by JLL also depicts a dismal picture of the first quarter of 2020. According to the report, the Coronavirus pandemic disrupted the residential market in March 2020 as the walk-ins reduced by 50 percent, before coming to a sudden halt after a nationwide lockdown. The slowdown has resulted in a 30 percent decline in sales in Q1 of 2020.
  • The JLL report points towards a trend of consolidation in the residential real estate market with affordable housing taking the lead. Bigger developers will be on the lookout for small yet credible projects and their acquisition.
  • According to the JLL report, the de-densification and splitting of offices will take centre stage. At the same time, the path to overall recovery cycle will be led by the office real estate sector.

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Measures taken by Governments across the world to provide relief to the real estate sector

As the Coronavirus induced fear and crisis has engulfed the world as a whole, the International Monetary Fund has indicated that the world has already entered into recession. However, the governments’ world over are taking measures to cope with the situation and announcing relief measures viz-

  • To ensure capital flows and liquidity availability in times of crisis, the Australian Government has reduced the benchmark Repo rate. It has also created a special funding facility to the tune of AUD 90 billion to help the ailing economy.
  • The French government has agreed to consider the Coronavirus epidemic a ‘Force Majeure‘. It clarified that no penalties would be levied on the contractors or developers for any delays attributed to the deadly pandemic.
  • In the United States of America, though the building and construction have been categorised as ‘non-essential’ services and most of the construction activities have stopped, the Congress is mulling a special financial package (due for a vote). The package is expected to help construction workers and will provide relief to federally-funded projects.
  • In response to the Coronavirus-induced crisis, the Government of Canada will provide $27 billion direct support to Canadian workers (including construction labourers). Some states such as Ontario have also included the building and construction into essential services list. Construction Association of Canada has also released a detailed safety guideline for construction workers amid COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Singapore Government has made special provisions to help the affected construction industry and labourers. It has allowed a refund on account of Man Year Entitlement (MYE) for construction companies starting April 1, 2020. They have also allowed the foreign construction workers to change an employer midway if they face hardships with the current employer.
  • Germany, which is also hit by the COVID-19 crisis, has readied the largest ever (Euro 400 billion) welfare package for the country, especially targeting the blue-collar working population. The government has also pledged to take over the wages for employees and compensate for the lost working hours due to Corona crisis.
  • The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been a construction hotspot for years now, has also rolled out a special package for small and medium enterprises and construction industry. The government has released $27 billion stimulus to aid the economy hit by Covid-19 crisis.
  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and United Nations (UN) have urged the developed countries to put on hold the debt payment from the poorest of countries so that they can effectively fight the COVID-19 crisis.
  • The World Bank has pledged $14 billion aid package for the countries around the world to fight the Coronavirus menace. It is in addition to the monetary packages announced by the IMF for countries such as Tanzania, Pakistan and Madagascar. To fight the Coronavirus crisis, the World Bank has also released $1 billion in aid for India.
  • In a recent projection by the IMF, the GDP of 170 countries is shrinking due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The ill-effects of this crisis may go into 2021 and could trigger a further downturn.
  • Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the Chinese economy has shrunk to 6.8 percent. It is more important from the perspective of the world’s dependence on raw material from China.
  • In a major decision against the rapidly spreading Coronavirus, United States of America has announced a 60-day ban on immigrants seeking to live and work in America. It can be extended depending on the economic fallout of the Coronavirus crisis.
  • The United Nations (UN) has predicted that the current crisis could trigger a widespread famine, pushing more than 256 mn people on the brink of starvation.
  • The US federal government has provided a moratorium of 120 days on evictions from federally subsidised property backed by a mortgaged loan. The US federal reserve has taken a ‘whatever it takes’ stance and is prepared to let go the lending rates up to zero. It has also provided the government with a $ 500 bn in liquidity.
  • Several European countries have either halted evictions or provided temporary mortgaged relief to the citizens. The commercial real estate owners are also being offered mortgage holidays.
  • Countries such as Canada and Brazil have done a significant rate cut in the policy rates to infuse liquidity into the markets.
  • China has also provided a special refinancing to the tune of Yuan 800 bn.
  • Italy, which is one of the most badly affected country from the COVID-19 crisis, has also formulated an emergency purchase program to support the economy.
  • Despite being hit by the COVID-19 crisis, the IMF has recently said that India will remain the ‘fastest-growing major economy’ in 2020.

Special measures taken by the Indian government

Sharing his inputs about the steps Government can take to revive the Indian real estate sector, Pavan Gupta, CEO, Muthoot Housing Finance Ltd says,

After an initial relief package announced by the Reserve Bank of India and the Finance Ministry, the Indian Government has come up with further measures to deal with the economic slowdown. A special funding window of over Rs 30,000 crore has been created for the Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) and Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) of the country. It will help inject liquidity into the system and will lower the cost of credit, especially helping the stressed real estate sector.

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Categories
Blog Intellectual Property Law

Trade Dress Protection in India and U.S.A.

By: Diksha Garg

Introduction

Intellectual and incorporeal property rights have been incorporated to protect the ownership rights of inventors. Over the course of the past few decades’ deliberations on whether the notion of product packaging and the appearance of the product could be considered within the purview of the aforementioned rights as well. A subset of trademark, trade dress necessarily refers to the “get-up” of a product.[1] It includes all composite aspects of a product that make up the visual appearance of the product.[2] While in its inception “trade dress” protected only the superficial aspects of the appearance of the product, the scope of the same was enhanced later to include “all elements of the product which is later presented to the consumer.”[3]

The raison-de-tat to extend protection not just to the commodity, but also to its appearance and packaging can be to identify and distinguish similar commodities, which is imperative for the consumer as well. One of the first instances to witness the protection of Trade Dress in the U.S was when the courts conclusively held that the “defendant’s packages constitute the unfair use of the plaintiff’s trade dress.”[4] Trade dress of a company is also protected to prevent any misperception for the consumers and to ensure that the product is from genuine manufacturers.

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Trade Dress Protection

U.S.A

The jurisprudence on trade dress protection is largely inspired from that of the United States. The U.S has surmised a statutory framework for the protection of trade dress rights. The Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act, 1946 provides for such protection.[5] Lanham Act accords protection to registered trademarks that are in “use in commerce” or have been acquired with a bona fide intent to use in commerce. As per the aforementioned provision: –

“Section 43(a) – (1) Any person who, on or in connection with any goods or services, or any container for goods, uses in commerce any word, term, name, symbol, or device, or any combination thereof, or any false designation of origin, false or misleading description of fact, or false or misleading representation of fact, which

  1. is likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive […] as to the origin, sponsorship, or approval of his or her goods, services, or commercial activities by another person, or
  2. in commercial advertising or promotion, misrepresents the nature, characteristics, qualities, or geographic origin of his or her or another person’s goods, services, or commercial activities, shall be liable in a civil action by any person who believes that he or she is likely to be damaged by such an act. 15 U.S.C. §1125.”[6]

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In regard to a trade dress infringement, the aggrieved party must sufficiently fulfil the test and show that the “get up” of the commodity is inherently distinct or has acquired distinctiveness via secondary means, that there is a possibility of misperception as to the genuineness of the commodity and that the trade dress is non-functional.[7] Based on the above criteria interpreted by the courts, to seek a remedy for the infringement of the trade dress, the aggrieved must show:

  1. Distinctiveness

A mark may be distinctive in two ways – inherently distinctive or acquire distinctiveness via secondary means.[8] To acquire Trade Dress through secondary means essentially refers to the ability to create a distinct association in the minds of the consumer of the mark and its origin. The trade dress is acquired through longevity in use and its favourable acceptance by the consumer.[9] The two-fold test of the Supreme Court was cemented in the case of Two Pesos v. Taco Cabana[10] while deliberating and examining the distinctiveness of products irrespective of their configuration and packaging.

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  1. Non-functional Trade Dress

There exists an interesting dilemma while examining the issue of non-functional aspects of trade dress. At the outset it must be realized that this criteria for qualification under trade dress rights, refers to the ability of the seller to show that the design or packaging as a whole is not functional.[11] The reason being that the ability to secure each aspect of a product as “trade dress” would only lead to monopolization and unfair competition. Trade dress must be considered as a complex composite of features jointly and not severally.[12] Furthermore, inclusion of the functional aspects of the product within the scope of trade dress regime would create a conflict between the trade dress rights and patent rights. Precedents dictate that, “there exists a fundamental right to compete through imitation of a competitor’s product, which right can only be temporarily denied by the patent or copyright laws.”[13]

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  1. Emulation of the Trade Dress Would Result in Confusion

The concern of a likelihood of confusion only arises when there is a possibility when the consumer may possibly, after viewing a mark or trait, associate or misperceive the product and services of one company/manufacturer to be of another.[14] The ascertainment of the “likelihood” is carried out not by assessing all aspects of the trade dress of the plaintiff and the infringer, but on the overall impression created.[15] Thus, in most cases the evaluation of the likelihood of confusion is perceived as a gordian knot allowing the company with the better goodwill and reputation to emerge victorious.

INDIA

Though the jurisprudence of Trade Dress in India has evolved from that of the United States, it is notable that unlike the U.S, India does not have an explicit statutory backing to support the Trade Dress regime. However, the Section 2(1)(m) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 provides some reprieve and recognises trade dress rights. The section defines a “mark” includes a device, brand, heading, label, ticket, name, signature, word, letter, numeral, shape of goods, packaging or combination of colours or any combination thereof.[16] Further, “package” is inclusive of case, container, folder, et al.[17] Additional protection is accorded by including within the ambit of “trade mark,” the visual aspects such as shape of products while analysing the distinguishing aspects of a product and its graphical aspects to grant a trade mark protection.[18] As with regard to the various elements of trade dress protection, the criteria is identical to that of the U.S.[19]

Further, the courts have unambiguously held that use of similar packaging as that of a plaintiffs product would amount to an infringement of the intellectual property rights of the plaintiff and that the defendant is restrained from utilising the same.[20] In the widely known case of Gorbatschow Wodka K.G,[21] the hon’ble High Court of Bombay found that the shape of the bottle of the defendant was deceptively familiar to that of the plaintiff, and that continued use of same was likely to infringe the rights of the plaintiff and thus the defendant was restrained from further use of the same. In another instance, the courts have also recognised the colour combination of similar products operating under different trademarks as trade dress.[22] While deliberating in the case of Christian Louboutin,[23] the Indian Courts for the first time declared trade dress “well-known” status similar to trade mark.

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Conclusion

There is a world of difference between the jurisprudence and protection of Trade dress in India and U.S. The reason being that the laws of India are still at a nascent and developing stage. The formalisation of a Trade Dress regime happened only vis the amendments of 2003 and is not completely at par with that of the U.S. An added advantage for the U.S regime is the structure provided through the legislative provisions. However, Indian laws are not quite as far behind and the increase in competition in the market has contributed affirmatively towards the growth of trade dress concerns.

[1] Kiran Mary George, Trade Dress Law in The Commercial Kitchen: Exploring the Application of The Lanham Act to Food Plating in The Culinary Industry, 10 NUJS L. Rev. 3 (2017). Available at: http://docs.manupatra.in/newsline/articles/Upload/1D11F646-E493-49B5-9E0D-7788D5C9B5EE.pdf

[2] Hartford House Ltd. v. Hallmark Cards Inc., 846 F.2d 1268

[3] Jeffrey Milstein, Inc. v. Greger, Lawlor, Roth, Inc., 58 F.3d 27

[4] Eastman Kodak Co. v. Royal-Pioneer Paper Box Manufacturing Co. 197 F. Supp. 132 (E.D. Pa. 1961)

[5] Lanham (Trademarks) Act of 1946, 15 U.S.C § 1051 et seq.

[6] Ibid

[7] Gen. Motors Corp v. Urban Gorilla, LLC 500 F.3d 1222

[8] Abercrombie & Fitch Co. v. Hunting World Inc., 1 537 F.2d 4

[9] Vuitton et Fils S.A. v. J. Young Enters., Inc., 644 F.2d 769

[10] 529 U.S. 205

[11] American Greetings Corp. v. Dan-Dee Imports, Inc., 807 F.2d 1136

[12] Ibid

[13] Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Samara Bros, Inc., 529 U.S. 205

[14] Fuddruckers, Inc. v. Doc’s B.R. Others, Inc., 826 F.2d 837

[15] Fremont Co. v. ITT Continental Baking Co., Inc., 199 U.S.P.Q. 415

[16] Trade Marks Act, 1999, § 2(1)(m), No. 47, Acts of Parliament, 1999 (India). Available at: https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1993?locale=en

[17] Ibid, at § 2(1)(q) – “package” includes any case, box, container, covering, folder, receptacle, vessel, casket, bottle, wrapper, label, band, ticket, reel, frame, capsule, cap, lid, stopper, and cork.

[18] Ibid, at § 2(zb).

[19] Subodh Asthana, Trade Dress Protection in India and US, IPleaders Blog, (Mar 15, 2021 10.30 PM), https://blog.ipleaders.in/trade-dress-protection/

[20] Cadbury India Limited & Ors. v. Neeraj Food Products, 142 (2007) DLT 724

[21] Gorbatschow Wodka K.G v. John Distilleries Ltd., 2011 (47) PTC 100 Bom

[22] Colgate Palmolive Co v Anchor Health and Beauty Care Pvt. Ltd., 2003 (27) PTC 478 Del

[23] Christian Louboutin Sas v Mr. Pawan Kumar & Ors., 2018 SCC OnLine Del 9185

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Categories
Blog Intellectual Property Law

The Copyright Bargain: Fair use in the United States and the United Kingdom

By: Rushika

Of all the creative work produced by humans anywhere, a tiny fraction has continuing commercial value. For that tiny fraction, the copyright is a crucially important legal device.

-Lawrence Lessig

Introduction

Creators of any artistic or literally work often do so in the hopes of benefitting financially and commercially from the same. However, in a competitive and capitalistic world, creators are frequently suppressed by the more powerful entities and their work exploited. There are also various issues that arise in respect of who the owners of the work are. Copyright is that legal mechanism that protects the rights of the creators of works and enables others to identify the true owner of the work.

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Copyright

Often described as the engine of progress,[1] copyright is the legal term used to describe the rights that creators have over their artistic or literary works.[2] The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 of the United Kingdom defines copyright as a property rights which subsists in (a) original literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works, (b) sound recordings, films or broadcasts, and (c) the typographical arrangement of published editions.[3] Extending similar protections, Copyright Law of the United States contained in Title 17 of the U.S. Code defines the contours of copyright as a protection that subsists in the original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which they can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device.[4]

The need and importance of copyright law is firmly established today. That copyrights of creators must be jealously safeguarded is not contended. However, on many occasions, the works of copyright owners may be used for various non-commercial purposes such as education, research, news reporting and charitable purposes to name a few. To prevent such uses of the work could result in some highly undesirable consequences such as misinformation, and could even halt progress to a significant extent, which is quite contrary to the intended purposes of copyright protection. This article discusses the fair use and fair dealing of copyrighted works in the context of the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland respectively.

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Fair Use in the United States of America

Fair use is a legal doctrine that promotes freedom of expression by permitting the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works in certain circumstances. In the United States of America, section 107 of the Copyright Act provides the statutory framework that determines the nature of a use and whether the same is fair. It provides that the use of copyrighted work for purposes such as- (i) criticism, (ii) comment, (iii) news reporting, (iv) teaching, (v) scholarship; or (vi) research, does not amount to an infringement under the Act. Further, in order to determine whether the use is fair or not, it calls for consideration the following four factors:[5]

 

  1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or it is for non-profit educational purposes

In evaluating fair use, courts often approach a dispute with the intention of balancing the purpose of the use with the character of the use. While non-profit educational uses and non-commercial uses are more likely to find favour with the court, transformative uses are also received with a positive outlook by the courts. In TCA v. McCollum,[6] when the routine of the black comedy Hand to God was featured in a play, the court held that the play’s usage was transformative because the audience must be aware of the original in order to get the joke. However, this does not mean that the use must always be transformative. For instance, in Swatch v. Bloomberg[7], it was held that use for the purposes of news reporting was not required to be transformative.

 

  1. The nature of the copyrighted work

Another important factor for the courts to consider is the nature of the copyrighted work. Here, they must analyze the degree and extent to which the work relates to the purposes of copyright such as encouraging creative expression. Consequently, use of factual work is more likely to be considered fair rather than use of more creative or imaginative works such as novels, movies or songs. For instance, a defendant in a music file sharing case could not claim a fair use defense since he had failed to provide evidence that his copying of music files involved any transformative use. The court held that the defendant was confusing “‘fairness’ and ‘fair use’ and that fair use was not a referendum on fairness in the abstract.”[8]

 

  1. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole

In applying this test, courts oft look at the quality and quantity of the substance used. Where less than 1% of a person’s unpublished letters were copied and the purpose was informational, the same was held to be fair use.[9] However, where the unpublished letters were the “backbone” of the biography, it was found that the letters may have been taken more as a means of capitalizing on the interest in the person whose letters they were rather than in providing a critical study of the author.

In other contexts, even when a small amount of the copyrighted work was used, it was held to not be fair use when the same was the “heart” of the copyrighted work. For instance, when a television station’s news broadcast used 30 seconds from a four-minute copyrighted videotape of the 1992 Los Angeles beating of Reginald Denny, the court finding that the use was commercial and that it took the heart of the work, and affected the copyright owner’s ability to market the video, held that the same was not a fair use.[10]

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  1. The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work

The final factor for consideration under section 107 is the extent to which the unlicensed use causes harm to the existing or future market interest of the original work. Where the use effected the owners right to make future derivative works, it was held to not be fair use.[11] Similarly, where the material taken was substantial and the publication adversely affected the potential market for authorized books about the program, it was held to be an infringement.[12]

While the above four factors are explicitly identified for consideration by courts under section 107 of the Copyright Act, the courts may also place weightage upon other factors if the need may arise, based upon the individual facts of the case. Therefore, no specific formula can be evolved to identify infringement under the Act.

Fair dealing in the United Kingdom

Similar to the concept of fair use in the United States, exception to the copyright law exists in the United Kingdom under the principle of fair dealing. The Intellectual Property Office of the United Kingdom describes ‘fair dealing’ as ‘a legal term used to establish whether a use of copyright material is lawful or whether it infringes copyright.’ It further states that there is no statutory definition of fair dealing and the same ‘will always be a matter of fact, degree and impression in each case. The question to be asked is: how would a fair minded and honest person have dealt with the work?’[13] Accordingly, the courts have identified two essential factors that are relevant in determining whether a particular dealing with a work is fair or not. These are as follows:

  • Whether the use of the work affects the market of the original work; and
  • Whether the amount of work taken is reasonable and appropriate, and if the same is necessary to be taken.

In this respect, it is the view of the Office that where the work acts as a substitute for the original work and results in loss of revenue to the owner of the work, it is likely that such a dealing is not fair. Further, conventionally, only the use of a part of the work is permissible under the principle of fair dealing.

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Section 29 and 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 outline the purposes and parameters within which the potential defense of fair dealing may be applicable. These are as follows:[14]

  1. Quotation, Criticism and Review: Where short extracts from the work have been reproduced for the purposes of criticism and review, the same is permissible provided that the critique or review is genuine. A more general defense of quotation is available as extracts may also be used for other purposes such as academic research or writings.
  2. News Reporting: This exception applies to use of copyrighted materials such as textual extracts or short video clips, for purposes of reporting current events that are of national or international importance.
  3. Parody, caricature and pastiche: This exception introduced in 2014 is made in respect to the use of various existing works to generate fresh or new social commentaries for purposes of humour or ridicule without the requirement of obtaining the permission of the original author.
  4. Research and private study for non-commercial research: Where single copies of a work have been made or where short extracts have been taken from them for non-commercial research or for private study by entities such as students and researchers, and the same has not been published or shared with others, such a use is exempted under the Act.
  5. Preservation or replacement copies: Often, it is necessary to preserve or conserve the original works of copyright owners that may otherwise be lost or destroyed. Further, with technological advancements, without the creation of digital formats of works, they may become obsolete. In such circumstances, replication of works would be fair dealing provided that the work is not one of multiple copies and it is not possible to obtain another copy of the same.
  6. Educational uses for instruction and examination: Use of work for teaching purposes, instructing students, etc. is not considered infringement provided that they are not used for commercial purposes.
  7. Text or data mining: Text or data mining is a fairly new concept that implies an automatic process of scanning or analyzing large amounts of data using scripts customized to look for patterns, or discover relationships and trends that are otherwise not visible through a normal reading. The purpose of this exception is to enable scientific growth and progress using computer technology where the research is not for the commercial benefit of the researcher. However, the researcher is required to comply with certain legal requirements such as legal access to the data through subscriptions, etc.

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It may be noted that while fair use and fair dealing appear to be similar to a great extent, the two terms are not interchangeable. An exception to copyright law that may be available in the United States under the principle of fair use may not necessarily be available under the law of the United Kingdom under the principle of fair dealing. While fair use is a more general defense and can be widely interpreted by the courts, the exceptions under fair dealing are stricter and more limited than those of the States. They are also less open to interpretation than the exceptions under fair use. Hence, this distinction between the two principles must be borne in mind at all times while considering the issues of copyright infringement in the two countries.[15]

Conclusion

Copyright is of immense importance to enable progress and development. Without the protection of copyright laws, most literary and artistic works would be of no value. This is neither favourable to the interests of the owners of the works nor to the economy. However, the protection afforded cannot be so stringent that it becomes detrimental to the overarching interest of society at large. Therefore, the exceptions carved out under the principles of fair use and fair dealing are highly significant. With the United States and the United Kingdom being two of the most developed countries in the world, the protections, and the exceptions to the protections afforded by them to various entities becomes of great relevance as legislators of various other nations look upto the same to formulate their own laws. Considering that the exceptions mentioned hereinabove are neither too liberal nor so stringent that they are insufficient, they appear to be suited well to the present purposes. Further, as observed, with changing circumstances, the exceptions have also been amended to include more advanced purposes such as data mining, hence keeping the law relevant and preventing the same from becoming outdated. However, with the number of fast-paced and unexpected technological advancements that have been taking place lately, it remains to be seen how the jurisprudence will evolve to encompass the same.

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[1] Intellectual Property Talent Search Examination, What is the Importance of Copyright? (Mar. 10, 2021, 11:17 AM), https://iptse.com/why-are-copyright-laws-important/

[2] World Intellectual Property Organization, Copyright (Mar 10, 2021, 11:17 AM), https://www.wipo.int/copyright/en/

[3] Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, c.48 §1, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/957583/Copyright-designs-and-patents-act-1988.pdf

[4] Copyright Law of the United States of 2020, 17 U.S.C., §101, https://www.copyright.gov/title17/title17.pdf.

[5] U.S. Copyright Office, More information on Fair Use (Mar 10, 2021, 11:17 AM), https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/more-info.html.

[6] TCA Television Corp. v. McCollum, No. 15 Civ. 4325 (S.D. N.Y. Dec. 17, 2015)

[7] Swatch Grp. Mgmt. Servs. Ltd. v. Bloomberg L.P. 742 F.3d 17 (2d Cir. 2014).

[8] Capitol Records Inc. v. Alaujan, 2009 WL 5873136 (D. Mass., 7/27/09).

[9] Wright v. Warner Books, Inc., 953 F.2d 731 (2d Cir. 1991).

[10] Los Angeles News Service v. KCAL-TV Channel 9, 108 F.3d 1119 (9th Cir. 1997).

[11] Castle Rock Entertainment, Inc. v. Carol Publ. Group, 150 F.3d 132 (2d Cir. 1998).

[12] Twin Peaks v. Publications Int’l, Ltd., 996 F.2d 1366 (2d Cir. 1993).

[13] Intellectual Property Office, Exceptions to Copyright, (Mar. 10, 2021, 11:17 AM), https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright.

[14] The University of Edinburgh, Copyright Exceptions and Fair Dealing, (Mar. 10, 2021, 11:17 AM), https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/library-museum-gallery/library-help/copyright/copyright-exceptions-and-fair-dealing

[15] ibid.

Categories
Blog Criminal Law

Stages in Criminal Proceedings in India

By: Muskan Sharma

The Criminal Law regime in India is regulated by the following statutes:

  1. The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter referred to as “IPC”)
  2. The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as “CrPC”)
  3. The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (hereinafter referred to as “Evidence Act”)

The IPC provides for classification between different offences. It also provides the punishment to be awarded to a person convicted of any offence. The CrPC provides for the procedure to be followed during the proceedings to conclude the case. The Evidence Act provides what evidence is admissible and relevant during the trial.

However, studying the IPC, the CrPC, and the Evidence Act separately will not make one understand the gist of Criminal Law. It is pertinent to study these three legislations in their entirety to know about different stages in criminal proceedings in India.

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Following are the different stages in criminal proceedings in India:

  1. Commission of an Offence

Criminal proceedings take place only when an offence is committed. This stage is surely not a part of the trial. However, only the commission of an offence can lead to criminal proceedings.

  1. Information to the Police
  2. Information as to the Commission of a Cognizable Offence

After the commission of an offence, it is pertinent that the Police receive information about it. If the offence is a cognizable offence, then the Police have to act according to Section 154 of the CrPC. Section 154 (1) of the CrPC provides that information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence shall be reduced in writing by the officer-in-charge of the concerned Police Station and must be read over to the informant. The person, who provided such information, must sign on it.

Section 154 (2) provides that a copy of such FIR shall be given free of cost to the informant. In case the officer-in-charge of a Police Station refuses to record such information, the concerned person may then write the substance of such information and post it to the Superintendent of the Police. If the Superintendent of the Police is satisfied that such information discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, he shall either investigate the case himself or direct an officer in subordination to him, to investigate such a case.

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  1. Information as to the Commission of a Non-Cognizable Offence

If in case, an officer-in-charge of a Police station receives information about the commission of a non-cognizable offence, he must prepare NCR i.e. Non-Cognizable Report which contains all the information of such offence reduced into writing. In Non-cognizable offences, the Police cannot arrest a person without a warrant. However, if a person is accused of committing a cognizable offence, the police can arrest him even without a warrant.

If the information provided to the officer-in-charge of the Police station discloses that the act of the accused person is partly a cognizable offence and partly a non-cognizable offence, then it will be considered as a Cognizable Offence.

  1. Investigation by Police

Chapter XII of the CrPC provides for the investigation of an offence by the Police. Section 156 of the CrPC empowers a police officer to investigate a cognizable case without the order of a Magistrate. Further, Section 156 (2) provides that the no proceedings handled by a police officer in such a case cannot be called into question on the ground that the officer was not empowered to investigate the case under this section. A Magistrate may order the investigation of such a case under Section 190, CrPC.

Section 157 of the CrPC provides for the procedure to be followed for investigation. It states that when the officer-in-charge of a Police Station is empowered under Section 156, he must send a report to the Magistrate empowered to take cognizance of such offence on a report by the Police and either proceed in person or depute any of his subordinate officers to investigate the facts and circumstances of the case. However, provisos to Section 157 (1) provide that an officer-in-charge must refrain from investigating the case if the offence is not of a serious nature or if there is no sufficient ground for entering into the investigation. The concerned officer-in-charge must state reasons for not complying or not investigating the case in his report, as provided by Section 157 (2) of the CrPC.

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The purpose behind the conduct of the investigation by the Police is to obtain the following:

  1. Evidence
  2. Attendance of Witnesses
  3. Interrogation statement of the accused
  4. Statement of Witnesses
  5. Expert Opinion

However, the procedure to be followed in the course of the investigation may be different in special categories of cases or if the procedure cannot be completed in 24 hours.

  1. Anticipatory Bail

Anticipatory bail is a direction from the Court to release a person on bail even before the arrest. In Balachand Jain v. State of MP, the Court has described anticipatory bail as ‘bail in anticipation of arrest’.

In Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab, the Supreme Court observed that the court must be satisfied that the person invoking Section 438 (1) of the CrPC shall have reasons to believe that he will be arrested for non-bailable offence and his belief must be based on reasonable grounds.

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The Court must provide anticipatory bail after taking into consideration the following factors:

  1. The Gravity of the alleged offence.
  2. Antecedents of the person applying for anticipatory bail i.e. whether he has been previously convicted of a cognizable offence.
  3. If the accused person can flee from justice.
  4. Where the accusations are backed by the intention of causing injury or humiliation to the accused.

The Court may also impose the following conditions to be fulfilled by the accused when seeking an order of anticipatory bail:

  1. He must be available for interrogation by the police officer, as and when required.
  2. He must not, directly or indirectly, induce, give threats, or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer.
  3. He must not leave India without the permission of the Court.
  4. Arrest of the Accused

The Police officer may arrest the accused person without the warrant if the offence is of cognizable nature. However, the concerned police officer must obtain the approval of the Magistrate in the form of a warrant if the alleged offence is of non-cognizable nature.

  1. Production of the Accused to the Magistrate

After the accused person is arrested, the concerned police officer must produce the accused before the Magistrate within 24 hours of the arrest as stated in Article 22(2) of the Indian Constitution. Hence, an arrested person has a fundamental right to be produced before the Magistrate within 24 hours of arrest.

  1. Remand

If the accused person is arrested and the investigation cannot be completed within 24 hours, then such person is to be produced before a Magistrate for extension of Police or Magisterial Custody.

  1. Closure Report

A closure report is filed when upon the investigation, it is discovered that no offence can be made out. Also, the accused person must be released under Section 169 of the CrPC in such cases.

  1. Filing of Charge sheet

However, a Charge sheet must be filed according to Section 173 of the CrPC if, upon the investigation, it is discovered that an offence appears to have been committed. The Charge sheet must contain all the charges to be leveled against the accused person.

  1. Cognizance by Magistrate

After a charge sheet is filed under Section 173 of the CrPC, a Magistrate is empowered to take cognizance of such offence under Section 190 of the CrPC. Section 190 (2) further provides that a Chief Judicial Magistrate may empower any Magistrate of the second class to take cognizance of any such offence within his competence to try.

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  1. Service of Summon/Warrant

The Court then serves to summon or warrant to the accused person to present himself before the Court. A Summon or Warrant is issued with the aim to compel the appearance of accused persons under Chapter VI of the CrPC.

Section 61 of the CrPC provides that Summon issued by a Court shall be reduced to writing in duplicate signed by the presiding officer or any such officer prescribed by the High Court, and it must have the seal of the court.

Section 70 of the CrPC describes the form of a warrant of arrest. Every warrant issued shall be in writing, signed by the presiding officer of such Court and must bear the seal of the Court. Such warrant shall remain in force until cancelled by the Court or until executed.

  1. Bail Application

A Bail Application is filed before the Court under Form No. 45 of the Second Schedule to release the accused person from custody. The accused person can be granted bail only if he furnishes bond and sureties before the Court.

The procedure to obtain bail is different in bailable and non-bailable offences.

  1. Bail in Bailable offences

Section 436 of the CrPC provides for the procedure to obtain bail in bailable offences. Section 436 provides that in case of bailable offences, the accused person can be released on bail. However, such officer or Court may, if deem it reasonable to do so, instead of taking bail, discharge him by executing a bond without sureties for his appearance.

Section 436 (2) further provides that if a person does not comply with any of the provisions of the bail bond regarding the time and place of his attendance, the Court is empowered to refuse to release him on bail. Such refusal shall be considered without prejudice to the powers of the Court to call upon any person bound by the bond to pay penalty under Section 446.

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Further, Section 436A has been inserted in the CrPC in 2005 for the undertrial prisoners. It says that if a person has already completed half of the maximum sentence to be awarded for the alleged offence, then he must be released on personal bond with or without surety.

  1. Bail in Non-bailable offences

Where it is alleged that the accused person has committed a non-bailable offence, he may be released on bail.

The Court may refuse to grant the bail in the following cases:

  1. There are reasonable grounds to believe that he is guilty of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life.
  2. The alleged offence is cognizable and the accused person is previously convicted of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, imprisonment for seven years or more, or has been convicted twice or thrice of a non-bailable and cognizable offence. However, the Court may release such an accused person on bail if it is just and proper to do so for any other reason. It has been further provided that identification by witnesses is no sufficient ground for refusal to grant bail if the accused person is otherwise entitled to be released on bail.

Also, the Court may not refuse bail to a person below sixteen years of age, a woman, sick or infirm person.

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Section 437(2) further provides that if there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the accused has committed a non-bailable offence but sufficient grounds for further inquiry into his guilt are there, the accused may be released on bail, subject to Section 446A, or execution of a bond by him without sureties for his appearance.

Section 437 (3) says that a person accused of an offence punishable with imprisonment which may extend to seven years or more in Chapter VI, Chapter XVI, or Chapter XVII of the IPC or abetment of, or conspiracy or attempt to commit such offence, the Court may impose any condition while releasing the person on bail.

  1. Plea of Guilty/Not Guilty

The Court, before commencing the trial, must ask the accused person whether he wishes to plead guilty or not guilty. The Court may convict the person on his plea of guilty under Section 253, CrPC. This provision has been inserted in the Criminal Law regime so the speedy delivery of justice can be made effective.

  1. Commencement of Trial

The Trial of a case is said to be commenced when it is posted for the examination of witnesses. A Trial may be classified into the following categories:

  1. Sessions Trial
  2. Warrant Trial
  3. Summons Trial
  4. Summary Trial
  5. Stages of Evidence of Prosecution

The prosecution is required to prove the guilt of the accused through the examination of witnesses and documentary evidence. It involves Examination of Chief, Cross-examination, and re-examination. This whole cycle is known as ‘examination-in-chief’.

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After this, the Court records the statement of the accused person under Section 313 of the CrPC. The accused is given the opportunity of being heard and explain the facts and circumstances of the case. The defence is then, asked to present any evidence before the Court that may support the acquittal of the accused person. Usually, the burden of proof is on the prosecution, the defence is rarely asked to present evidence before the Court.

  1. Final Arguments

After examining all the evidence and other relevant facts and circumstances, the court decides upon what questions are to be addressed during the final arguments of the case. The Public Prosecutor and the Defence Counsel both present their arguments to the Court on the disputed issues.

  1. Judgment

After hearing final arguments from both sides, the Court has to deliver judgment addressing if the accused is convicted or acquitted, the quantum of punishment if convicted, grounds of conviction/acquittal, etc.

The Judgment must be clear and precise. It should state the facts of the case, arguments presented by the Counsel from both sides, acquittal/conviction of the accused, and grounds for the same.

  1. Appeal

After the judgment is delivered by the Court, the aggrieved party may file for an appeal. Before the appellate court, arguments of both sides are placed. The Appellate Court, then decides if the judgment rendered by the subordinate court had any merits or not.

  1. Revision

The aggrieved party may alternatively file a Revision petition to prevent a faulty judgment from being enforced.

  1. Execution

The last stage is the execution of the orders of the Court. The stage of execution is when all the remedies of appeal, revision, etc. are exhausted and the decision is final.

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Role of Technology in Law Enforcement

By: Himali Sylvester

Technological development has secured a merry place in the world today. Its development has seeped into various domains of human life and the legal discipline is no exception to this common phenomena. It can then conveniently be said that technology has now become the edifice of democratic polity. As the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic meddled with the everyday lives of billions of people across the world, the globe turned into a remote world which could only be run by technology. In this aftermath, the utility of technology has become all the more palpable. It is now important for us to examine as to how technology has been impactful in the process of law enforcement.

Evidence Law

It is pertinent to be reminded right at the outset, that the arena of law is also largely governed by data and information. So, to begin with, electronic records serve largely in enforcing laws. With the introduction of computers, electronic writing and messaging have become common. A small benefit from technology was reaped when the definition of a ‘document’ was expanded to also include ‘electronic documents’ as under Section 3(2) of the Indian Evidence Act. This makes the enforcement of evidence law more efficacious as e-documents are easier to obtain, collect and produce before the Court. Collection of physical evidence is a time-consuming process and requires person to person contact. Understandably so, in a world shunned by an uninvited virus, avoiding physical contact is a prime concern which has been achieved by technology that allows for the procurement of electronic proof and documents. Additionally, e-documents are easier to be stored, they reduce physical space and are often more portable in comparison to physical documents. Such documents can easily be exchanged in courts as well as by lawyers and enforcement agencies in a very short span of time.

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It should be noted that the question about the admissibility of e-documents had been challenged before the hon’ble Supreme Court of India, as under Section 65-B of the Indian Evidence Act. It was then affirmed that any e-evidence or e-document produced before the Court must be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by a reliable authority. It was at this juncture that Senior Advocate Jayant Bhushan said that section 65B of the Evidence Act was a “procedural provision” intended to “supplement the law” by declaring that any information in an electronic record, “is admissible in any proceedings without further proof of the original[1]. The aforementioned statement is testimony to the fact that technology has been accepted as an essential component for the enforcement of evidence law in India.

Contract Law

The other important technological development that has helped in law enforcement is the acceptance or recognition of e-signatures as valid signatures under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (hereinafter IT Act). Signature is an imperative component for any legal work and lot of time that was invested in obtaining physical signatures has been minimized after the legalization of e-signatures[2]. It has become much more easier to enter into contracts, the process of availing attestation has become more convenient, thus, implying that the development of e-signatures as a result of technological advancement has helped in enforcing agreements.

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In the case of Tamilnadu Organic Private Ltd. & Ors. v. State of Bank of India[3], the Madras High Court observed that contractual liabilities could arise by way of electronic means and such contracts could be enforced through law. The High Court further observed that Section 10A of the IT Act enables the use of electronic records and electronic means for the conclusion of agreements, contracts and other purposes. Succinctly put, the contract jurisprudence has benefited immensely from technological progress.

A contract entered through email is valid with a second factor authentication such as PIN or Password provided that the requirements of the IT Act are satisfied. The same was held in the case of Trimex International Fze Limited, Dubai v. Vedanata Aluminium Limited[4] wherein the hon’ble Supreme Court held that unconditional offer and acceptance through emails constituted a valid contract under the Indian Contract Act, 1872. Implied contracts are also equally relevant in e-contracts. To illustrate, if an employee acts upon an e-employment contract and shows up to work and carries out her duties according to the contract, she cannot dispute the existence of a contract merely because the contract was entered into by email or other e-communication platforms. In a nutshell, it can also be said that entering into contracts has become more expedient with the emergence of advanced e-communication systems, thus, having a positive impact on the enforcement of contract law.

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Technological development however, does obscure the conventional contract law. According to contract law, an offer is considered complete when the offeree is made aware of the offer and the acceptance is considered complete as against the offeror when it is put into transmission so as to be outside the control of the acceptor and it is considered complete as against the acceptor, when it comes to the knowledge of the offeror. It must be borne in mind that such provisions were laid down at a time when sending letters and posting them, was the most common form of communication. In a world overwhelmed by emails and other social media platforms, it is often difficult to determine as to when the offer has actually reached the offeree. For instance, when an offer is made via email, when should it be considered that the offer is complete? When the mail gets delivered or when the mail is actually read by the offeree? These are confusing questions that emerge while interpreting and seeking to enforce a contract and the present contract law in most countries has not accommodated these provisions. Understandably so, the enforcement of contract law has been hindered by technological evolution as law does not change and adapt itself at the same pace as technology does.

Intellectual Property Law

Another apposite legal discipline that has been largely hit by technological advancement, is the intellectual property regime. The need for a stringent copyright law has become imperative with the advent of technology. But the question remains as to whether traditional copyright laws can be enforced to protect copyrights in a world reigned largely by technology? Scholars suggest that the growing use of computers to handle and store information could make it even harder for copyright holders to enforce their rights. This is because, copying digital information can be done at a fraction of the cost and in a fraction of the time that it takes with photocopying or analog audio or video taping[5]. Secondly, the digital nature of computer-sourced information suggests that an infinite number of copies of material can be made. Such a distinctive nature of computers makes it difficult for copyright holders to control any infringement of copyrights. Besides by appealing to consumer ethics, it is often impossible to determine, at what point can an act be considered as a violation/infringement of copyrights, while the user is still in possession of the copyrighted material.

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A rapidly growing amount of material is being made available through on-line databases. But this is  changing with other technological advances that simplify the conversion of printed text and graphics into machine-readable, digital format. Optical character readers for text input are becoming popular in offices as they are cheap and more efficient. If the costs of converting printed and written texts and graphics into computer-readable forms become cheap and it is proven that is it more efficient, such a practise will become a routine. The digital optical disk, uses lasers to record and read information off a disk and rotates at a high rate of speed, offers great potential for storing very large volumes of digitized information. Geosynchronous communication relay satellites affect the enforcement of copyright law because an increasing amount of copyrighted material is being transmitted by these systems. As of now, anyone who has a proper antenna‘dish’ and a down converter can receive the material.

Manifestly so, traditional meaning cannot be applied to the nuanced circumstances that surround copyrights, currently. The legal premise of ‘rights’ itself have changed with the technological bloom. The meaning of ‘fair use’ of those rights obviously change as duplication of copyrights is not the same with computer-mediated storage provisions. Consequently, various attributes of infringement have also changed. The legal recourse bequeathed upon the copyright holders have changed with technological progress, thus, affecting the enforcement of copyright law.

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Criminal Law

The year 2018 saw 32,700 cases of culpable homicide and murders in India and sadly, the trajectory of such cases has only been leaning upwards ever since[6]. A prudent understanding of the above statistics would suggest that criminal law enforcement needs to be expedited in order to promote security and prevent public disorder. Technology will certainly play a crucial role in enforcing criminal laws. The invention of CCTV cameras for monitoring and surveillance of public places as well as police stations has been pivotal in fending off offenses. Certain states have enacted laws to allow for video surveillance. The Karnataka Public Safety (Measures) Enforcement Act, 2017 and Andhra Pradesh Public Safety Act, 2013 make it mandatory for crowded places to provide for public safety measures which primarily includes Closed Circuit Television Surveillance (CCTV Surveillance)[7]. Both the Acts are premised upon the objective of tracking and detecting crimes and other criminal activities, indicating the role that CCTV cameras and video surveillance have in enforcing criminal laws in India.

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Video surveillance also has role in the process of investigation. In the case of Shafhi Mohammad v. State of Himachal Pradesh[8] the Apex of India directed to set up Central Oversight Body (COB) to implement plan of action for using videography in the  crime  scene during investigation. Earlier in the case of D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal and Ors.[9], a need was also directed to have in every State an oversight mechanism whereby an independent committee can study the CCTV camera footage and periodically publish a report of its observations thereon. CCTV cameras can certainly be considered the boon of technology for the immense help that it continuous to render in curbing crime rates in India.

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Law enforcement agencies are using drones for a variety of functions providing cost-effective solutions. They can provide real-time information to police and crime investigators about crimes in progress and dangerous situations, as they unfold. It helps the police force to be prepared to face situations. The Global Positioning System (GPS) has also helped in rescuing victims as well tracking criminal suspects. Unsurprisingly so, enforcement of criminal laws has become prompt and there has been a frequent application of these laws after the invention of CCTVs, GPS systems and drone technology. These technologies sometimes do pose privacy challenges, most of which remain unaddressed even in the Justice Puttuswamy judgement. The extent to which movements and actions can be monitored and surveilled is yet to ascertained legally. Until then, the privacy discourse will continue to be debated.

Conclusion

It would be an understatement to assert that technology has a role to play in law enforcement. Technology and technological progress are pivotal for the efficacious enforcement of law. To the Indian context, e-documents, e-signatures and e-contracts are certainly developments that have aided in enforcing laws. The intellectual property regime has also begun to respond to technological advancements. But above all, if there is one domain that has benefited the most from technology, it is the domain of criminal law enforcement. Advance videography and audiography being used to monitor criminals and the same being admissible as evidence is a leap-forward in efficiently fostering the application of evidence law and criminal law.

[1] THE ECONOMIC TIMES,

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/courts-can-rely-on-electronic-records-without-certificate-supreme-court/articleshow/62777759.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst (last visited Feb. 27, 2021).

 

[2] Trilegal, Electronic signatures in India, ADOBE SIGNS (Feb 27, 2021, 21:46 PM IST), https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/dx-dc/pdf/uk/electronic-signatures-in-india-uk.pdf.

[3] Tamilnadu Organic Private Ltd. & Ors. v. State of Bank of India AIR 2014 Mad 103.

[4] (2010) 3 SCC 1.

[5] PRINCETON EDU, https://www.princeton.edu/~ota/disk2/1986/8610/861007.PDF (last visited Feb. 27, 2021). .

[6] TNN, Crime rates drop but not for women, kids, THE TIMES OF INDIA (Jan. 13, 2020, 16:57 IST), https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/crime-rate-drops-but-not-for-women-kids/articleshow/73187216.cms.

[7] Priti Singh and Gaurav Kumar, Why am I under CCTV surveillance?, WORDPRESS (May 16, 2020), https://jilsblognujs.wordpress.com/2020/05/16/why-am-i-under-cctv-surveillance/#_ftn1.

[8] MANU/SC/0331/2018.

[9] (1997) 1 SCC 41.

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Trademark Registration Process in India- Checklist

By:- Rajat Nischal 

A trademark if perceived in a true layman’s sense would be referred to as a visual representation of a word, label, numeric characters, name, or device consumed by an entity in order to segregate/ distinguish its own identity/ services or goods from the previously present comparable services/goods stemming from a different entity/organization. A trademark operates its being in such a sedulous approach that it delivers an exclusive identity (i.e., an exclusive mark which a third party cannot optimize) of that specific service/good offered by that specific service provider/ entity. The moment an entity enrolls itself as a registered trademark, it transmogrifies its own self as an untouchable asset or intellectual property for an entity which is optimized in order to protect the reputation and status of that specific brand/entity.

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Considering the contemporary scenario in India, the trademarks are registered under the Trademark Act, 2016 by the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. Post the registration as a trademark, the trademark owner gains a right to take legal action for damages when trademarks infringements of occur. Subsequent to a successful registration, symbol ‘R’ can be used by the trademark owner making the validation of his rights for a fixed period of 10 years. Nevertheless, the trademarks forthcoming their expiration can easily be renewed by a simple submission of renewal application.

REGISTRATION CHECKLIST

The registration procedure encompasses the following;

  • Filling up registration application form,
  • Examination of the trademark
  • Publication of the trademark
  • Advertisement of the trademark
  • Opposition (objections) if raised/ found
  • Registration of the trademark and renewal of the trademark after every 10 years.

The checklist consists of a basic necessities

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  1. SEARCHING A TRADEMARK

The applier is suggested to be cautious during the course of selection. This is because, tremendous variety of trademarks are predominantly registered and to make it indisputable, the mark should truly be unique. A thorough research on the trademarks database which is available with the trademarks registry has to be conducted before choosing a unique and exclusive trademark.  The database is a prominent option because the search discloses all the types of trademarks that are already available in the market, either registered or unregistered.

  1. FILING APPLICATION

The concerned application may be filed either in a multi or a single class. The same totally hangs to the specific service/good that the entity holds. The application Form TM-A which can be filled in either ways, may it be online or offline. For offline the applier shall visit the official trademark office depending upon the jurisdiction and for online, the applier shall refer the official intellectual property India website. The trademark application encompasses numerous documents prescribing comprehensive and detailed specifications of the trademark.

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  • EXAMINATION BY THE AUTHORITIES

After filing the application, asper the guidelines of the Trade Marks Act of 2016, an obligatory examination process of the trademark application is conducted by the government examiner.

The submissions of their examination might reveal certain objections which may be absolute or limited in nature; the aforesaid examination report by the concerned authorities is dispensed within a span of 30 days of having filed the application. In response of the same, in order to remove the objections, an obligatory rational response (including arguments and evidence) to the objections shall be submitted before the authorities.

  1. AFTER THE EXAMINATION 

Upon filing a reply to the investigation report, the authority Examiner may hold legal proceeding if the Examiner is not completely satisfied with the reply filed or if the objections are not satisfied. After the hearing, the Inspector can approve the trade mark and either forward the request for publication to the journal or refuse the application if there is still an estoppel.

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  1. MARKETING AND PUBLISHING

After the application for registration has been approved, the said trademark shall be marketed and published in the Trade Marks Journal for a term of 4 months.

The purpose of the publication and ads is to encourage the general public to file an opposition to the registration of the label. The Trade Marks Journal is accessible on the Official Registry website, which is published every Monday of the week.

  1. DISAPPROVAL

After the publication of the trademark, any person who has been aggrieved can file a notice of opposition to the registration of the published trademark. The said notice shall be filed via form TM-O within a deadline of 4 months of the actual publication in the trademark journal. In the event of opposition, all the mechanism will function asper the prescribed procedures of law (the said includes; facts, counter-statement complaint, arguments etc.).

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  • REGISTRATION

The final piece to this whole process is the successful registration of the trademark which comes after travelling journey full of estoppels.

Moreover, in the scenario where no opposition is raised towards the registration of the trademark during the 4 months publication period then, the same will get itself successfully registered within 7 working days.

CATEGORIES OF TRADEMARK UNITS IN INDIA

In India, trademarks can be registered in a multitude of forms. The same includes wordmark, label, logo, as well as device mark. As a condition, the choice to file a trademark as a word mark or logo is indeed a very challenging choice to accept.

  1. GENERIC MARK

The Generic marks denotes a very generalised explanation of their product or seller. These comprise commonly known words like “food,” “shoes” or “watch.” However, the aforesaid words are a part and parcel of the daily routine of an individual’s life and giving exclusive usage rights for such words would truly amount gross injustice to other individuals of the society. For an illustration, trademark registration for the term “restaurant” is impossible as well as irrational in its very basis. And lawfully, such sort of a registration would exhaustively upshot an unfair monopoly over the entire food and beverage industry. Henceforth, if such terms are registered, unknowingly, countless businesses will have to shut themselves down unnervingly. So, an entity if perceives to uphold a registered mark in its name it shall add another modifier exclusive to its products.

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  1. SUGGESTIVE MARK

Suggestive marks register terms that indicate the quality of a service without actually referring to it in a literal way. Imagination from the end of the user is a key factor in the identification of the mark. A good example would be Netflix, as it makes reference to its service line without explicitly mentioning that it is a video streaming network.

  1. DESCRIPTIVE MARK

While the generic mark may reflect a commodity or its supplier, the Descriptive Mark refers to just the merchandise. That being said, as these words are considered part of the common language, they are nevertheless non-registerable. However, the inclusion of a ‘signifier’ to identify and define the substantial nature of the substance may qualify it for trademark protection.

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  1. FANCIFUL MARK

This sort of trademark is the easiest one to file. It just includes a new term that does not actually have any meaning for the general public. While smoother to file.  In specific, the corporation should closely analyse how the brand will be perceived by the public. It is better to carry out careful study into whether it will be easy to recognize, read, or pronounce. Fanciful marks require informed forethought, too. Brands will most likely prefer their trade to achieve favourable characterizations, but businesses shall also acknowledge the cultural overtones of their fanciful trade mark.

  1. LOGO

A logo in its true basic sense, enshrines the trademark holder with utmost rights over the amalgamation of words, design, and images together. For an illustration; Adidas, Puma, Nike, Reebok, etc. Above and beyond this, if the customer base of the company is truly based upon its logo, then obviously the entity would prefer to register a patent on that particular logo.

The covering given to the words in the logo mark is reduced as opposed to the regular word marks so the rights in the logo are only valid as a whole. Consequently, if an entity/individual pertains a wish to register a clearly styled appearance or a union of stylized words and design, the registration of a trademark as a logo will be essential.

  1. WORD MARK

One of the most convenient and sober registration processes belongs to the word mark; a word mark is specifically designated for the name / title of the entity. For an illustration, Britannia and Jio solely possess the word of their entity as a registered mark and the said is called to be acknowledged as a word mark. Post the registration of a trademark as a word mark, the owner gains a blanket right over the usage and practice of the concerned word. The rights wholly support for the variations made in its font or writing style/size, until and unless the word is used asper and in line of the legal specifications enlisted, the word lies in the boundaries of the blanket of the rights owned by the applier.

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