India Initiated Mediation and Conciliation Process for Contested Matters in Trade Marks Registry, Delhi
07-Mar-2016
NEW DELHI - The Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks (CGPDTM) in India in collaboration with Delhi State Legal Service Authority (DSLSA) has undertaken to initiate a project to liquidate the pendency through Mediation and Conciliation based on Mediation and Conciliation Rules framed under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987,
Initially, it has been decided to undertake the project on pilot basis by taking up 500 pending Opposition and Rectification. It is estimated that close to 130,000 trademark disputes are pending in India, and this project aims to resolve matters pending for over a decade.
The interested parties in the listed matters may submit their consent in the "Consent Form" within 30 days from the date of this Notice, so that their matters may be referred to DSLSA for further action. The original "Consent Form" should be submitted before the designated officer of DSLSA at the time of Mediation proceeding.
According to sources, the whole process of resolving the Trademark disputes have been getting delayed due to administrative issues. Interestingly, it would take almost a year for the Trademark Registry to send the notice to the applicant if an opposition was filed. As a result, numerous opposition matters are pending for over a decade.