IPR

Parliamentary Panel Pushes for Patent Commercialisation Hubs in IITs

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A Parliamentary panel has recommended the creation of Patent Commercialisation Hubs at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to transform academic research into market-ready products. The proposal comes from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce in its 192nd report, highlighting the need to strengthen India’s intellectual property ecosystem.

Bridging the Innovation Gap

The committee noted that while India has seen a surge in patent filings from universities and research institutions, many innovations remain unutilised. By setting up these hubs, IITs can provide infrastructure, mentorship, and technical guidance to convert patents into viable products.

The panel also urged the government to introduce matching grants for innovators. These grants would help researchers and startups build prototypes, making their technologies attractive for industry partnerships.

Incubation and Investor Linkages

The report suggested establishing Patent-to-Product Incubation Centres at IITs. These centres would offer seed funding, lab facilities, and business mentorship. More importantly, they would connect innovators with venture capitalists and private investors, ensuring that promising technologies scale effectively.

Government’s Current Measures

The Ministry of Commerce pointed out several existing initiatives. The Indian Patent Advanced Search System (inPASS) allows stakeholders to explore patents and identify potential licensing opportunities (inPASS). Patent holders can voluntarily declare their willingness to license inventions, helping industries adopt innovative solutions.

Additionally, the government has slashed patent renewal fees by 80% for startups, MSMEs, and educational institutions. This step reduces financial pressure on smaller innovators and promotes long-term patent protection.

Why It Matters

India’s educational institutions filed over 19,000 patents in FY 2023, accounting for 23% of total filings. This marks a sharp rise from 7,200 in FY 2022. Yet, challenges such as long patent approval timelines—around 51 months—continue to hamper innovation.

The proposed hubs can bridge this gap by ensuring patents are not just filed but also commercialised. Such efforts could position India as a stronger global player in innovation.

Outlook

If implemented, these hubs could redefine India’s innovation ecosystem. IITs, with their research capabilities and industry linkages, are well-placed to lead this initiative. The move aligns with India’s ambition to strengthen its intellectual property rights (IPR) regime and drive economic growth through technology-driven enterprises.

Hyundai Patents Breakthrough for Copper Use in Solid-State Batteries

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Hyundai has secured a U.S. patent for a new method that makes copper usable in sulphide-based solid-state batteries. The patent was published on August 18, 2025.

Copper is widely used in conventional lithium-ion batteries as an anode current collector. It offers high conductivity and low cost. But in solid-state batteries, copper has been avoided. The sulphide electrolytes corrode copper, forcing manufacturers to use alternatives like nickel or stainless steel. These materials are more expensive and less conductive.

Hyundai’s patent changes this equation. The company developed a protective coating that shields copper from corrosion. The design uses a carbon sheet combined with vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. It also integrates lithiophilic metal particles such as silver, aluminum, or gold. This layer enhances durability and ensures stable adhesion.

The new structure allows copper to survive repeated charge and discharge cycles. It maintains strong conductivity and prevents capacity loss. This breakthrough could reduce battery costs and improve performance for electric vehicles.

Hyundai has been pushing aggressively in solid-state battery research. In 2023, it filed another patent for a system that maintains constant pressure in battery cells. In January 2025, the company confirmed plans for a pilot production line. Mass production is expected around 2030.

The global race for solid-state battery technology is intense. Automakers see it as the next leap beyond lithium-ion. Solid-state batteries promise higher energy density, faster charging, and improved safety. Companies like Toyota, Volkswagen, and Stellantis are also working on similar solutions.

Hyundai’s copper breakthrough strengthens its position in this race. By combining low-cost materials with long-term stability, the company could lower barriers to mass adoption of solid-state EV batteries.

Delhi High Court Suggests Zee Media Consider Logo Change in “Duniyadari” Trademark Dispute

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The Delhi High Court has advised Zee Media Corporation to consider altering its logo in an ongoing trademark dispute with the India Today Group. The case revolves around the title “Duniyadari,” which both media houses are using for their news shows.

The Dispute

India Today Group, through its digital platform The Lallantop, has been running a popular show called Duniyadari since 2020. The programme attracts millions of views, with some episodes crossing 8.5 million views. The company claims strong goodwill and recognition for the mark.

Zee Media launched a Punjabi-language show with the same title, written in Gurmukhi script. India Today alleged that the use of “Duniyadari” in any form amounts to infringement and passing off, even after Zee removed a globe symbol from its logo.

Zee’s Argument

Zee Media argued that “Duniyadari” is a common Hindi expression that means “worldly affairs.” It said no company can monopolise such a generic term. The broadcaster further stressed that India Today’s registration covers only a stylised label and not exclusive rights to the word itself. Zee also referred to the 2013 Marathi film Duniyadari as proof that the term has long been in public use.

Court’s Observations

Justice Tejas Karia noted that the similarity between the two marks could confuse viewers who can read both Hindi and Gurmukhi. He said the marks appeared “prima facie deceptively similar.” The judge suggested that Zee could consider changing its logo if it wished to avoid prolonged litigation. However, he clarified that this was not a final ruling.

Next Steps

The Court directed Zee Media to file its reply by August 22, 2025. The matter will be heard again on September 2, 2025.

India Today expressed openness to resolve the matter through negotiation but maintained that Zee must stop using the “Duniyadari” mark if a settlement cannot be reached.

The case highlights the growing conflicts in India’s media industry over trademark ownership, especially when popular content crosses into multiple languages and regions.

VinFast Patents Minio Green EV in India, MG Comet EV Rival Incoming

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Vietnamese automaker VinFast has filed a design patent in India for its compact Minio Green EV. The micro electric car is set to compete directly with the MG Comet EV, a popular choice in India’s urban EV segment.

Compact Design, Urban Focus

The VinFast Minio Green EV measures 3,090 mm in length, making it slightly bigger than the MG Comet EV. It comes with a 1,625 mm height and a 2,065 mm wheelbase, ensuring good interior space for city use.

Its design highlights include LED semicircular headlights, vertical tail-lamps, flap-type door handles, black ORVMs, and 13-inch steel wheels. A shark-fin antenna completes its urban hatchback look.

Interior with Minimalist Touch

The cabin of the Minio Green EV is simple yet practical. It offers a two-spoke steering wheel, fabric seats, and a digital instrument cluster that also acts as the infotainment screen. The EV comes with a two-speaker audio system and a four-way adjustable driver’s seat, designed to keep costs low.

Battery, Range, and Speed

The VinFast Minio Green EV packs a 14.7 kWh battery paired with a rear-mounted electric motor. The motor delivers 27 hp and 65 Nm torque. On a full charge, it claims a driving range of 170 km (NEDC cycle).

The EV can achieve a top speed of 80 km/h. It also supports charging speeds of up to 12 kW, making it a practical choice for short city commutes.

Safety Features

VinFast has included basic safety features in the Minio Green EV. The car comes with a driver-side airbag, ABS with EBD, and traction control.

India Strategy and Market Impact

VinFast is building a strong base in India with its manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu. The facility has an annual capacity of 50,000 units, expandable to 150,000 units. Local production could help VinFast price the Minio Green EV competitively.

The company aims to capture India’s growing affordable EV market by offering a rival to the MG Comet EV. With rising fuel prices and increasing demand for sustainable mobility, the VinFast Minio Green could emerge as an attractive option for urban buyers and fleet operators.

Amritsar-Born Scientist Surpasses Thomas Edison’s Patent Record

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A lesser-known but extraordinary Indian-origin scientist, Dr. Gurtej Singh Sandhu, has etched his name in history by surpassing the U.S. patent record once held by the legendary Thomas Alva Edison. Sandhu, who hails from Amritsar and is an alumnus of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), now ranks among the world’s top inventors with more than 1,300 U.S. patents, outshining Edison’s lifetime tally of 1,093.

Who is Gurtej Singh Sandhu?

Dr. Sandhu completed his B.Sc. in physics from GNDU and later pursued a master’s degree and Ph.D. in physics from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. His academic brilliance and research mindset led him into the semiconductor industry, where his contributions revolutionized memory chip technologies.

Currently serving as Senior Fellow and Vice President at Micron Technology, a leading U.S.-based semiconductor company, Sandhu has quietly built a reputation as one of the most impactful scientists in the world of electronics.

Surpassing Edison’s Century-Old Record

For over a century, Thomas Edison—the inventor of the electric bulb, phonograph, and motion picture camera—held the image of the world’s most prolific inventor, with 1,093 U.S. patents. However, in the last three decades, Sandhu has outpaced that milestone with groundbreaking innovations.

As of 2025, he holds between 1,325 and 1,432 U.S. utility patents (depending on source), placing him in the top 7 prolific inventors globally. Unlike Edison, whose patents spanned household technologies, Sandhu’s focus has been on semiconductors and nanoscale memory devices, powering the backbone of the digital age.

His Key Innovations

Dr. Sandhu’s work is vital for the evolution of computing, smartphones, cloud storage, and artificial intelligence. Some of his notable contributions include:

Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) techniques for high-volume chip manufacturing.

Development of Oxygen-free Titanium Nitride (TiN) layers, critical for memory devices.

Pitch-doubling lithography methods, which allowed circuits to be shrunk far beyond conventional limits.

Pioneering work in 3D NAND flash memory, the foundation of modern data storage.

These breakthroughs extended Moore’s Law, enabling faster, smaller, and more efficient devices that power billions of digital systems today.

Recognition and Awards

Sandhu’s contributions have earned him global respect. Notably, he received the IEEE Andrew S. Grove Award (2018), one of the highest honors in the semiconductor industry, for his pioneering role in device scaling. His work has also been recognized by academic institutions and scientific bodies worldwide.

Despite his towering achievements, Sandhu has remained relatively low-profile compared to Silicon Valley celebrities, focusing quietly on research and innovation.

A Moment of Pride for India

For India, his journey from Amritsar to global innovation leadership is a source of immense pride. GNDU, his alma mater, has publicly celebrated his achievements, calling him an inspiration for young Indian scientists and innovators.

Sandhu’s story demonstrates how Indian-origin scientists continue to redefine global technology frontiers. By surpassing Edison’s century-old patent record, he has not only set a new benchmark in inventorship but also highlighted India’s contribution to the modern knowledge economy.

India Plans Major Overhaul of Intellectual Property Laws

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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has signalled a sweeping reform of India’s intellectual property (IP) framework. The government aims to simplify laws, speed up processes, and create new avenues for commercial use of registered rights.

Goyal said the government is open to introducing new laws and making amendments where needed. He added that officials will study how trademarks can be better leveraged for revenue and economic growth.

The minister highlighted that India’s IP ecosystem has made significant progress in recent years. Patent grants have risen sharply. Trademark filings have also surged, making India the sixth-largest filer worldwide. Yet, Goyal acknowledged that trademark registration timelines remain long and need to be reduced.

The reforms come after the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 took effect on August 1, 2024. The law decriminalised several minor IP offences and replaced prison terms with monetary penalties. It also introduced a 10% automatic increase in fines every three years.

To boost efficiency, the government recently launched AI- and machine-learning-based tools for trademark searches. The new IP Saarthi chatbot offers guidance in local languages, making the process more accessible to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Goyal stressed that technology will play a central role in modernising IP administration. Faster examinations, digital tools, and better enforcement mechanisms will help India attract innovation and investment.

He also pointed to the potential of monetising trademarks. While he did not give details, experts say this could involve licensing, brand valuation, and broader commercial use of registered marks.

The push to ease compliance is part of the government’s broader plan to cut outdated rules. According to Goyal, many provisions are redundant and create unnecessary burdens for businesses.

India’s reforms aim to balance protection of rights with ease of doing business. If successful, they could position the country as a global leader in IP administration and innovation-driven growth.

German Firm ParTec Sues Nvidia, Seeks AI Hardware Ban Across 18 European Countries

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German supercomputing specialist ParTec AG has launched a fresh legal offensive against U.S. chip giant Nvidia, filing a patent infringement lawsuit at the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in Munich. The company aims to secure an injunction that would block the sale of Nvidia’s DGX AI supercomputers in 18 European countries.

ParTec alleges that Nvidia copied its patented dynamic Modular System Architecture (dMSA), a design that enables real-time coordination between CPUs and GPUs for high-efficiency AI computing. According to the filing, the technology is central to modern supercomputing performance and powers some of Europe’s largest AI installations.

The lawsuit marks the third patent dispute ParTec has initiated against Nvidia. The company has also demanded that Nvidia disclose detailed sales figures for the DGX line and pay damages for the alleged infringement.

Collaboration Talks Turned Sour
ParTec claims the dispute began in 2019, when it shared details of its dMSA technology and ParaStation software with Nvidia during discussions about a potential partnership. Despite initial interest, the two firms never formalized an agreement. ParTec says Nvidia later integrated the patented design into its DGX systems without permission.

Nvidia continued to supply GPUs to supercomputing projects linked to ParTec, but the German company argues that the absence of a licensing deal made such use unlawful. ParTec also suggests Nvidia’s reluctance to negotiate may stem from its earlier patent case in Texas against Microsoft, one of Nvidia’s largest customers, over the same technology.

Legal and Market Stakes
If the UPC grants the injunction, Nvidia could be forced to redesign its AI hardware or strike a licensing deal with ParTec before re-entering these 18 European markets. The outcome could disrupt Nvidia’s dominance in AI infrastructure across the region and set a precedent for enforcing European technology patents against major U.S. firms.

ParTec’s legal representative, BF exaQC AG, emphasised that protecting Europe’s home-grown innovations is essential for the continent’s technological sovereignty. “Our inventions power some of the most advanced supercomputers in Europe. We have a duty to defend them,” a company spokesperson said.

The Unified Patent Court’s ruling will carry weight well beyond this dispute. As one of the first high-profile AI hardware cases before the UPC, it could shape how Europe balances innovation protection with global competition in the race for AI supremacy.

Delhi High Court Allows Use of Section 104A at Interim Stage in Patent Cases

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In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has ruled that Section 104A of the Patents Act, 1970, can be invoked at the interim stage of a patent infringement suit. This allows the plaintiff to seek disclosure of the defendant’s manufacturing process before the trial begins. Justice Amit Bansal delivered the verdict while hearing a case between Roche and Zydus Lifesciences.

Background of the Case

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche filed a patent infringement suit against Zydus, alleging that the latter had used a patented process to manufacture a biosimilar of Pertuzumab, a drug used to treat breast cancer. Roche claimed that Zydus’s product was identical to the product made using its patented process.

At the interim stage, Roche invoked Section 104A, seeking disclosure of Zydus’s process. Zydus opposed this request, arguing that Section 104A could not be used before the trial. It also claimed its product was different and that such disclosures would harm its trade secrets.

Court’s Observations

Justice Bansal held that the law does not prohibit the use of Section 104A at the interlocutory stage. The Court emphasized that if the plaintiff shows that the defendant’s product is identical to the patented product, then the burden can shift to the defendant. The defendant would then have to prove that they used a different process.

“There is no bar under the Patents Act to invoke Section 104A at the interim stage,” said Justice Bansal.

He further clarified that the section was designed to address the difficulty patent holders face in proving process infringement, especially in complex pharmaceutical cases.

Protection for Trade Secrets

The Court acknowledged Zydus’s concern regarding confidential business information. It stated that while disclosure may be necessary, the court must ensure that commercial secrets are protected. The ruling allows for controlled disclosure, possibly through confidentiality clubs or similar safeguards.

Understanding Section 104A

Section 104A of the Patents Act provides for a burden-shifting mechanism. It comes into play when:

The patent is for a new product made using a patented process.

The plaintiff reasonably believes that the defendant is using the same process.

The plaintiff cannot determine the process used by the defendant through reasonable means.

If these conditions are met, the defendant must then prove that their process is different.

Impact of the Judgment

This ruling is expected to have a major impact on process patent litigation in India, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. It strengthens the ability of patent holders to enforce their rights early in the litigation process.

The Court’s decision ensures that genuine claims by patentees are not delayed unnecessarily. At the same time, it balances commercial interests by protecting trade secrets.

Conclusion

The Delhi High Court’s judgment sets a crucial precedent in Indian patent law. It confirms that Section 104A can be used at the interim stage, provided the plaintiff meets the necessary thresholds. This will likely aid companies facing infringement of process patents, especially in cases involving biosimilars and generic drugs.