Intellectual property Infringement is basically using someone else’s Intellectual property without the permission of the owner of those Intellectual Property holders who has the rights. Infringement is “a crime less serious than a felony”.
Intellectual property infringement could be anything’s that relates to the intellectual property it can be trademark infringement copyright infringement, patent infringement etc.
IP laws in India are governed and protected under the Patents Act, 1970; Trademarks Act, 1999; Copyrights Act, 1957; Designs Act, 2001 etc. Civil and Criminal remedies mentioned under these acts are of utmost importance for the IP rights enforcement.
The courts in India have power to grant reliefs in cases pertaining to violation and/or infringement of intellectual property rights. The judiciary not only does the adjudication of the intellectual property matters but it also interprets several IP statutes for better understanding.
Civil Remedies
Upon IP infringement civil remedies can be enforced by filing a suit for infringement and/or passing off (in case of unregistered trademarks) in the competent court. Following reliefs of civil nature can be granted:
1. Injunction
2. Anton Pillar orders or Ex-parte orders
3. Orders for deliver up/surrender or seize and destroy
4. An award of costs and damages
5. Tracing orders
Injunction is prohibition of an action by a party to a law suit. If the plaintiff establishes that the prima facie case is in his favor, injunction is granted.
Anton Pillar orders, permits the plaintiff’s counsel to enter the infringer’s premises and seize evidence of infringement. This order is passed when there is a serious danger of removal/destruction of the infringing articles. Such an order is granted on an ex-parte application. Infringing goods are delivered to the plaintiff or destroyed if the orders of delivery-up and destruction are passed.
Under tracing remedies, an infringer can be ordered to provide details like from where he got his supplies of infringing goods. Failure to provide such information is taken as contempt of court.An award of cost and damages are two mutually exclusive remedies.
Criminal Remedies
Criminal remedies in India are provided only for Trademarks and copyrights.Section 63 of the Copyright Act, 1957 deals with ‘Offences of Infringement of copyright or other rights conferred by the act’. It mentions about imprisonment for a term not less than 6 months which may extend up to 3 years and fine not less than 50,000 rupees which may extend up to 2 lakh rupees, as punishment if found guilty in a copyright infringement case. This term and fine can be increased according to the provisions of Section 63A of the Copyright Act, 1957.
Chapter XII of the Trademarks Act, 1999 deals with offences, penalties and procedures pertaining to trademark infringement. Here on account of trademark infringement, the punishment can go as high as imprisonment up to 3 years with or without fine. The fine ranges from 50,000 to 2 lakh rupees. This term and fine can be increased as per the provisions of the Section 105 of the Trademarks Act, 1999.
Indian Patent Act, 1970 also considers falsification of entries in register, claiming patent rights in an unauthorized way etc. to be punishable criminal offences. Such penalties are mentioned under Chapter XX of the Indian Patents Act, 1970.
