SC Denies Pernod Ricard Relief, Rejects Trademark Claim Over “Pride” in Whisky Brands
The Supreme Court dismissed Pernod Ricard’s plea against JK Enterprises for its whisky brand, London Pride, upholding the Madhya Pradesh HC ruling. The Court ruled that “Pride” is generic in the liquor industry and not protectable in isolation, trademark rights lie in the composite “Blenders Pride,” not the individual term.
Parle Agro Drags Pepsico to Delhi HC Over ‘Fizz’ Branding on 7UP
Parle Agro has sued PepsiCo in the Delhi High Court, alleging trademark infringement over the use of “Fizz” on 7UP labels. Parle claims the styling mimics its Appy Fizz branding, misleading consumers. PepsiCo argues “Fizz” is generic for carbonated drinks. The matter is set for hearing on August 18, 2025.
Delhi HC Bars Rogue Sites from Streaming FanCode Live Content
The Delhi HC granted a dynamic injunction in Sporta Technologies vs. John Doe, stopping multiple rogue websites and mobile apps from streaming sports content exclusively licensed to FanCode, a key step in protecting live sports rights and tackling digital piracy.
Optiemus, Corning Join Forces to Manufacture ‘Engineered by Corning’ Screen Protectors in India
Optiemus has signed a trademark and licensing agreement with U.S. glass giant Corning to locally manufacture ‘Engineered by Corning’ screen protectors in Noida. The move is aligned with Make in India, builds Corning’s brand presence, and taps into both domestic and export demand, marking a major IP-driven manufacturing collaboration in India’s fast-growing mobile accessories space.
India Expands Intellectual Property Office to Boost R&D and Innovation
Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the upgraded ISA Building at IPO, Dwarka, now home to 700+ staff, advanced IP workspaces, and a state of the art training center. Built at a cost of ₹88 crore, the eco- friendly facility reflects India’s drive toward global IP leadership and its vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.
L’Oreal Wins Domain Name Dispute Over “kiehls777.com”
In UDRP domain name dispute the kiehls777.com has been transferred to L’Oreal, and ruling it infringed the luxury brand’s KIEHL’S trademark. The panel found the domain confusingly similar, with “777” not reducing consumer confusion. The respondent had no legitimate interest and used the site for online gaming and data collection, showing clear bad-faith registration and exploitation of L’Oréal’s brand reputation.
Disney Unit Sues InterDigital, Blasts Patented Video- Compression Monopoly
A Disney subsidiary has filed an antitrust suit in Delaware, accusing InterDigital of abusing its monopoly over key H.264 and H.265 video-encoding patents to extract inflated royalties. Disney argues existing licensing agreements obligate “reasonable and non-discriminatory” terms, which InterDigital has allegedly violated. The complaint seeks injunctive relief and treble damages under U.S. antitrust law.
ParTec AG Launches Fresh UPC Suit Against NVIDIA, Targets 18-Country Injunction
German supercomputing firm ParTec AG has filed a new Unified Patent Court action in Munich against NVIDIA, seeking an 18 country injunction. The patent upgrading a revoked EPO counterpart, avoids prior added-matter issues. This marks ParTec’s second UPC case against NVIDIA, with ties to its Texas suit against Microsoft and broader Al sector disputes.
Beijing-backed Beijing E- Town Sues U.S. Applied Materials for Alleged Trade- Secret Misappropriation
Beijing E-Town Semiconductor Technologies, a state-supported Chinese firm, is suing Applied Materials in the Beijing Intellectual Property Court for misappropriating trade secrets tied to plasma source and wafer treatment technologies. The complaint alleges Applied filed a patent in China listing former Beijing E-Town-affiliated employees as inventors, disclosing proprietary know-how. Beijing E-Town seeks about ¥99.99 million (US $13.94 million) in damages.
Judge Denies Anthropic’s Bid to Appeal Copyright Ruling as Trial Looms
A California federal judge has refused Anthropic’s request to appeal a ruling now, plants December 1, 2025, trial instead. While Claude’s Al training was found to be fair use, storing pirated books in a “central library” remains actionable. With potential damages in the billions, the court insists on a full trial record before any appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
