{"id":8988,"date":"2021-10-25T09:28:13","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T09:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/?p=8988"},"modified":"2021-10-25T09:57:30","modified_gmt":"2021-10-25T09:57:30","slug":"protecting-ipr-against-unfair-trade-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/protecting-ipr-against-unfair-trade-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting IPR Against Unfair Trade Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">The significance or importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) was first discussed in the <strong><em>Paris Convention <\/em><\/strong>in 1883 and the <strong><em>Berne Convention<\/em><\/strong> in 1886 for the protection of Industrial Property and Literary &amp; Artistic Work, respectively. Now, India is an important member of <strong><em>the World Trade Organisation (WTO) <\/em><\/strong>and hence, a party to its TRIPS Agreement. India is also a member of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). However, in the past few years, India has introduced various laws for protecting IPR against Unfair Trade practices and for their citizens in compliance with various International Conventions &amp; Treaties. There have been regular modifications in the IPR Policy Regime of India. Scroll down to check more information regarding protecting IPR against Unfair Trade Practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3bee5c0c8d4\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3bee5c0c8d4\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/protecting-ipr-against-unfair-trade-practices\/#What_are_Intellectual_Property_Rights_IPR\" title=\"What are Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)? \">What are Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)? <\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/protecting-ipr-against-unfair-trade-practices\/#What_are_the_Current_Laws_Protecting_IPR_Against_Unfair_Trade_Practices_in_India\" title=\"What are the Current Laws Protecting IPR Against Unfair Trade Practices in India?\">What are the Current Laws Protecting IPR Against Unfair Trade Practices in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/protecting-ipr-against-unfair-trade-practices\/#What_Do_You_Mean_by_Unfair_Trade_Practices\" title=\"What Do You\nMean by Unfair Trade Practices?\">What Do You\nMean by Unfair Trade Practices?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/protecting-ipr-against-unfair-trade-practices\/#Competition_Law_in_India_%E2%80%93_Protecting_IPR_against_Unfair_Trade_Practices\" title=\"Competition\nLaw in India \u2013 Protecting IPR against Unfair Trade Practices\">Competition\nLaw in India \u2013 Protecting IPR against Unfair Trade Practices<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/protecting-ipr-against-unfair-trade-practices\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion \">Conclusion <\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_Intellectual_Property_Rights_IPR\"><\/span>What are Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)? <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>IPR or Intellectual Property Rights are the exclusive rights facilitated to individuals over the creation of their minds. They generally give the author or creator an exclusive right over the usage of their creation for a specific time. There are different types of IPR:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/trademark-registration\" class=\"text-primary\">Trademark<\/a><\/strong>;<\/li><li>Copyright;<\/li><li>Patent;<\/li><li>Design;<\/li><li>Industrial Property;<\/li><li>Trade Secrets.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_Current_Laws_Protecting_IPR_Against_Unfair_Trade_Practices_in_India\"><\/span>What are the Current Laws Protecting IPR Against Unfair Trade Practices in India?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Following\nare some important laws regarding protecting IPR against Unfair Trade Practices\nin India:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong>Trademarks Act, 1999<\/strong><sup><a class=\"text-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/legislative.gov.in\/sites\/default\/files\/A1999-47_0.pdf\"><strong>[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/sup>;<\/li><li>The Design Act, 2000;<\/li><li>The Copyright Act, 1957;<\/li><li>Protection of Plant Varieties &amp; Farmers Right Act, 2001;<\/li><li>The Patents Act, 1970, which was changed or amended in 2005;<\/li><li>Information Technology Act, 2000;<\/li><li>The Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout Design Act, 2000;<\/li><li>The Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration &amp; Protection) Act, 1999.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Protecting\nIPR against Unfair Trade Practices is very important for several reasons. It is\nvital to identify the Intellectual Property Rights of the creators and give\nthem protection from violation\/infringement and exploitation to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Promote inventions in the\ntechnology &amp; culture field;<\/li><li>For the protection of creator\u2019s\nright;<\/li><li>To increase the economic\ngrowth, thereby establishing new industries &amp; creating new job\nopportunities;<\/li><li>To provide transfer of\ntechnology in several ways to ensure the easiness of doing business;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many examples where businesses have implemented Unfair Trade Practices to take benefit of the work of other opponents or competitors in the market. On the other hand, Unfair Trade Practices are being used for the illegal use of one&#8217;s IP, while on the other side, the owner of the rights over specific IP is misusing their dominant position in the market through pooling, refusal, and other unfair practices. So, to avoid market distortion and to manage fair competition by preventing illegal use of IP, there is a need to control unfair trade practices. It is vital to maintain a healthy and well-balanced  between <strong><em>IP protection &amp; Competition Policy<\/em><\/strong> in the Indian Market to have a fair playing field for the emerging industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nacts which are opposite to truthful practices are considered as acts of unfair\ncompetition. So the protection of IPR against Unfair Trade Practices is usually\nto serve the interest of business competitors. Customers may be the first\nvictim of the unfair competition, but the protection to the customer is mainly\nincidental &amp; not the only purpose of unfair competition. Now with the improvement\nin various factors, the protection of IPR against Unfair Trade Practices is not\nonly limited to business competitors but also serves the public interest, which\nassists in customer protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Do_You_Mean_by_Unfair_Trade_Practices\"><\/span>What Do You\nMean by Unfair Trade Practices?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfair\nTrade Practices can be considered as activities that use various fraudulent,\ndeceptive, unethical or misleading ways to run business. Various activities\nlike misleading representation of a good or service tied selling, deceptive\npricing, fake gift offers, refusal to grant a license, etc., are included under\nthe vision of Unfair Trade Practices. For example, misrepresentation of the\nconditions, benefits, or terms of any policy is an Unfair Trade Practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\nan ordinary rule, any practice or Act implemented in the course of\nindustrial\/commercial activities contrary to fair or truthful practices\nconstitutes an act of Unfair Competition, the decisive criterion being\n\u201cContrary to Truthful Practices\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Following\nare some trade practices that can be unfair:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Distribution of\nmisleading\/false information that can harm the business interests;<\/li><li>Distribution of incorrect or\nmisleading information to customers;<\/li><li>Deceptive use of another\u2019s\nTrademark, product labelling, firm name, or product packaging;<\/li><li>Unofficial receipt,\ndistribution or use of confidential scientific, production, technical, trade\ninformation, or business.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Competition_Law_in_India_%E2%80%93_Protecting_IPR_against_Unfair_Trade_Practices\"><\/span>Competition\nLaw in India \u2013 Protecting IPR against Unfair Trade Practices<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Protecting\nIPR against Unfair Trade Practices or competition has been noticed as one of\nthe main goals of the IP system, which prevents any act of competition that is\nin opposition to fair practices in business or industry-related matters,\nreferred to as \u201cUnfair Competition\u201d. The limitations on Unfair Trade Practices\nsafeguard the consumers against the exclusive right owners of IP by confirming\nthat they don&#8217;t misuse their leading position in the market. In India, there\nare two legislations, i.e., <strong><em>Competition Act, 2002 &amp; Consumer\nProtection Act, 2019, that<\/em><\/strong> make sure the competition in India should be\nfair by protecting the customers\u2019 rights against the exclusive right of the IP\nowners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li><strong><em>Competition Act, 2002<\/em><\/strong>:\nThis Act was introduced in India with an objective of the economic growth of\nthe nation; for the creation of a Commission to restrict practices having an\nunfavourable effect on competition, to encourage &amp; sustain competition in\nmarkets, to safeguard the customers&#8217; interest and to make sure the freedom of\ntrade executed by various players, and for matters connected therewith or\nincidental thereto. This Act tries to shift the focus from restricting\nmonopolies to encouraging fair competition so that market in India is equipped\nto fight with the market globally.<\/li><li><strong><em>Consumer Protection Act, 2019<\/em><\/strong>:\nIt&#8217;s a necessary act that aims to safeguard the customers from business\nexploitation. It cancelled the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, to expand the\nAct&#8217;s scope by increasing the rights of customers &amp; liabilities of sellers.\nIn simple words, it safeguards the customers from influences of the forcible power\nof sellers by means of unfair trade practices to restrict competition.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Protecting IPR against Unfair Trade Practices and competition is to boost innovation &amp; growth in the market. It doesn&#8217;t intend to restrict market competition. However, there are some activities that take place in the market &amp; are inequitable for the competition, so the Competition Act intends to control such activities and regulate competition in the market. It is still challenging to decide whether the current Act is feasible enough to confirm fair competition in the Indian market without any obstructions and restraining the use of Intellectual Property Rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read our article<\/b>:<mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/benefits-of-ipr-in-the-modern-times\/\">What are the Benefits of IPR in the Modern Times?<\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The significance or importance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) was first discussed in the Paris Convention in 1883 and the Berne Convention in 1886 for the protection of Industrial Property and Literary &amp; Artistic Work, respectively. Now, India is an important member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and hence, a party to its TRIPS [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8992,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[695],"tags":[887],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8988"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8988"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8988\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8997,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8988\/revisions\/8997"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}