Mediation Fails in Dabur–Patanjali Trade Dress Dispute
On 01 August 2025, the Delhi High Court was informed that mediation between Dabur India and Patanjali Ayurved had failed in their dispute over the trade dress of Patanjali’s “Dant Kanti Red (pan flavour)” toothpaste. Dabur alleges the packaging closely imitates its Dabur Red product, potentially misleading consumers.
Delhi HC Grants Interim Relief to Ching’s, Bars “Schezwan Chutney” Branding
On 02 August 2025, the Delhi High Court granted interim relief to Capital Foods (Ching’s), issuing an ex parte ad-interim injunction against Pitambari Products Pvt. Ltd., restraining use of the mark “Schezwan Chutney.” The court noted Ching’s holds both trademark and copyright registrations for “Schezwan Chutney,” finding a prima facie case in its favor. A full hearing is set for 16 December 2025.
Sonic × Timberland Collab Highlights Character Merchandising IP Power
Timberland’s upcoming collaboration with SEGA’s Sonic the Hedgehog, featuring limited-edition boots and apparel, underscores the value of character merchandising rights. SEGA’s licensing of Sonic’s image and branding allows cross-industry product expansion while retaining IP control. With only 30 engraved boots available, the collab blends scarcity marketing with robust trademark protection, ensuring both exclusivity and brand integrity.
ANI Files Copyright Suit Against YouTuber Thugesh
Asian News International (ANI) has filed a commercial suit in a Delhi court against YouTuber Thugesh (Mahesh Rajesh Keshwala) over alleged unauthorized use of its videos. ANI is also litigating a separate copyright case against YouTuber Mohak Mangal before the Delhi High Court.
DNPA Accuses ChatGPT of Copyright Breach in Delhi HC
The Digital News Publishers Association told the Delhi High Court that OpenAI’s ChatGPT unlawfully uses online news reports for training, infringing copyright and threatening digital journalism. Representing major Indian media houses, DNPA cited even transient storage as a violation. The intervention is in ANI’s copyright suit against OpenAI, with hearings set for 18 August, and September 2025.
Lawsuit Claims Apple Stole Trade Secrets to Build Apple Pay
A Texas firm, Fintiv, has sued Apple, alleging the tech giant misappropriated CorFire’s mobile wallet trade secrets to create Apple Pay. The complaint claims that after secret meetings in 2011–2012 and signed NDAs, Apple misused proprietary tech and even lured away CorFire employees to launch its payment platform without paying a cent. The suit cites trade secrets and RICO violations.
Apple Sues Apple Cinemas Theater Chain Over Trademark Infringement
Apple has filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Boston against Apple Cinemas, a Massachusetts-based theater chain, alleging trademark infringement. The complaint says the chain’s name risks confusing consumers and diluting Apple’s brand, especially as it expands nationwide into malls, some even near Apple Stores. Apple seeks to bar use of the name and unspecified damages.
CureVac, GSK Settle U.S. mRNA Patent Dispute With Pfizer-BioNTech for $790M+
CureVac has resolved its U.S. patent fight with Pfizer and BioNTech, granting a non-exclusive license for mRNA-based COVID-19 and influenza products. The deal delivers $740 million split between CureVac and partner GSK, plus $50 million from GSK for royalty monetization. GSK nets $370 million and secures a 1% U.S. sales royalty on BioNTech/Pfizer mRNA vaccines from 2025 onward.
Australia Pushes for Copyright Changes to Support AI Development
Australia’s Productivity Commission pushed for a sweeping review of copyright rules during its interim report on Harnessing data and Digital Technology. The Commission suggested expanding exemptions to allow text and data mining for AI training, comparing it to existing collective licensing in music, and warned that unrestricted use of copyrighted materials without compensation may harm creators.
