maheshwariandco

  I. The Growing Complexity of Trademark Battles in India Trademark disputes in India are no longer confined to straightforward cases of name copying or logo imitation. As Indian markets mature and brand portfolios expand, courts are increasingly being called upon to interpret nuanced doctrines of  trademark law , including the “family of marks” concept. One such case that drew national and international attention recently was  McDonald’s Corporation v. McPatel Food & Beverages , involving the use of the prefix “Mc” by a local food business. This legal contest wasn’t just about two names beginning with similar syllables. It raised serious questions about how far a global brand’s monopoly on a prefix can extend and how Indian courts are beginning to shape jurisprudence on familial trademarks—those forming a pattern within a well-known brand’s portfolio. II. The McDonald’s v. McPatel Dispute The dispute arose when McDonald’s, the American fast-food giant, filed a tradem...

  The Shifting Landscape of Patent Scrutiny For centuries, the patent examination process has operated as a largely internal exercise, insulated from the public eye and reliant on examiners to assess novelty, inventive step, and utility within the constraints of limited resources and time. But with an explosion in the volume and complexity of  patent filings , particularly in fast-evolving technological fields, that model is showing its cracks. To address this, a quiet but meaningful shift has taken hold across patent offices around the world: inviting the public to participate in the patent examination process. Through structured crowdsourcing platforms, third-party submissions, and pre-grant opposition mechanisms, individuals, industry stakeholders, and subject-matter experts are increasingly being called upon to bring forward relevant prior art and challenge weak claims before they become enforceable rights. Explore More:  Intellectual Property Legal F...