The year 2024 marked the third year of the operations of the IP Division at the Delhi High Court and the creation of IP Divisions at the Madras and Calcutta High Courts. The year also witnessed a significant phase of the evolution of intellectual property jurisprudence with a series of landmark judicial decisions. Some of these decisions reinforced India’s commitment to develop an efficient and fast IP protection system. Given the pivotal role that intellectual property plays in driving innovation, creativity, trade and economic progress, these developments have far-reaching implications for all stakeholders.
Standard Essential Patent (SEP) disputes gained prominence in the past year, with courts emphasising fair licensing practices and balancing patent rights with competition concerns. The rise of AI-driven content creation also triggered copyright disputes, building up to the recent ANI case against OpenAI, in which many other publishing houses joined the fray. These cases are raising critical questions about the use or misuse of copyrighted content by generative AI platforms. Additionally, the courts in India reinforced personality rights, as seen in the landmark decision in favour of prominent individuals and celebrities, restricting unauthorised digital exploitation of their likenesses.
The dynamic nature of IP disputes during the year also extended to domain name disputes, trademark enforcement and design conflicts, where legal battles continued over cybersquatting and unauthorised brand usage. The World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2024 report also recognised India’s growing influence in the global innovation landscape, highlighting its progress in patents, trademarks, and industrial designs. These developments reflect India’s dedication to protecting intellectual property rights while encouraging an environment that bolsters research, development, and entrepreneurship.
This comprehensive case law compilation provides key insights into the most notable IP rulings of the year 2024. Staying updated with the latest IP developments is essential as these cases have contributed to refining the legal standards governing IP rights, ensuring stronger protections for rights holders while balancing the interests of the larger public and industry. As the IP ecosystem continues to evolve, understanding these legal advancements continues to be critical in handling challenges and leveraging opportunities in an increasingly competitive and innovation-driven IP market.