India to Host National IP Awards & Conference on 9 March
India hosting the National IP Awards 2026 and IP Conference on 9 March 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, organised by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. The event, themed “IP for catalysing research by Youth and Women,” will recognise excellence in IP creation, protection and commercialisation while bringing together innovators, policymakers and practitioners for discussions on strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem.
Madras High Court Restrains Illegal Broadcast of Kerala Story 2
The Madras High Court has restrained internet service providers and cable operators, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, from unlawfully broadcasting the film Kerala Story 2 -Goes Beyond. The ad-interim injunction was granted in a copyright suit filed by the film’s producer, who warned that piracy immediately after release could cause irreversible commercial harm. The order remains in force till 23 March 2026.
Delhi High Court Grants Relief to Aniruddha Bapu Against AI Deepfakes
The Delhi High Court granted interim relief to spiritual leader Aniruddha Dhairyadhar Joshi (Aniruddha Bapu), restraining unidentified parties from creating or circulating AI-generated deepfake videos and voice clones using his identity. The Court held that such fabricated content could cause irreparable harm to his reputation and personality rights and ordered immediate restraint against further dissemination.
Bombay High Court Questions Legality of AI Tools Mimicking Celebrities
The Bombay High Court has questioned the legality of AI tools that simulate celebrity personalities without consent during proceedings involving actor Shilpa Shetty. The Court raised concerns over technology enabling the replication of a person’s voice, likeness, and mannerisms, signalling growing judicial scrutiny of AI systems that potentially infringe personality and publicity rights.
Global Patent Filings Rise as Digital Technologies Drive Innovation
International patent filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty rose 0.7% in 2025 to 275,900 applications, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization. Digital communication remained the largest technology field, while semiconductor filings recorded some of the fastest growth. China led global filings, followed by the United States and Japan, with Huawei Technologies retaining its position as the top PCT applicant worldwide.
Design Filings Hit Record as Trademark Filings Dip
Applications under the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs reached a record 28,588 designs in 2025, reflecting strong growth in consumer electronics and transport-related designs. In contrast, filings under the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks declined 1.5% to 64,150 applications, though the United States remained the largest source of international trademark filings.
Japan Patent Office Updates PCT Examination Handbook
The Japan Patent Office has released updated guidance in its PCT International Search and Preliminary Examination Handbook, outlining examination practices followed by the office when acting as an International Searching Authority or International Preliminary Examining Authority under the World Intellectual Property Organization PCT framework. The handbook provides procedural clarity for applicants filing international patent applications.
Shell–Venezuela Energy Agreements Include Technology and IP Transfer Elements
Shell plc has signed key oil and gas agreements with Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. covering development of onshore Carito and Pirital fields and the offshore Dragon gas project, which could export gas to Trinidad and Tobago by 2027. The deals include exploration, local content commitments, workforce training and technical cooperation with partners such as Baker Hughes and KBR, and are supported by U.S. sanctions exemptions permitting the supply of U.S.-origin goods, software and proprietary technologies used in energy exploration and production.
US Jury Orders Course Hero Owner to Pay $75M For Copyright Infringement
A US federal jury has ordered Learneo, owner of the study platform Course Hero, to pay $75.3 million to Post University for hosting and modifying copyrighted course materials without permission. The case highlights rising litigation against online learning platforms accused of distributing university content at scale without authorisation.
US Supreme Court Declines AI Copyright Dispute
The Supreme Court of the United States has declined to hear a case seeking copyright protection for artwork generated entirely by artificial intelligence. The decision leaves intact lower-court rulings that copyright law requires human authorship, reinforcing current limits on protection for purely AI-generated creative works.
Caltech Sues Zoom Over Videoconferencing Patents
California Institute of Technology has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Zoom Video Communications in a US federal court, alleging the company’s videoconferencing technology uses Caltech-owned networking innovations originally developed for scientific data transfer systems. The university is seeking damages and potentially licensing compensation.
Zydus Plans Generic Semaglutide Launch in India
Zydus Lifesciences plans to launch generic semaglutide injections in India after patent protection expires in March 2026. The drug, widely used for diabetes and weight management, is the active ingredient in blockbuster medicines developed by Novo Nordisk. A domestic generic entry could significantly reduce treatment costs.
Sanofi Signs $1.53B Oncology Licensing Deal
Sanofi has entered a licensing deal worth up to $1.53 billion with a unit of Sino Biopharmaceutical for an experimental blood cancer therapy. The agreement grants Sanofi rights to develop and commercialise the drug outside China, reflecting continued cross-border licensing activity in the oncology pipeline.
