Online Gaming: Challenges in Protection of Intellectual Property

  • February 13, 2023
  • Mathews V C

IP protection is a crucial aspect of the gaming industry as it helps game developers in protecting their creations and ensures that they receive appropriate recognition and adequate compensation for their work. However, protecting IP rights can prove difficult in the digital world, especially in countries where IP laws are weak or nonexistent.

Introduction

The gaming industry in India has been growing and evolving rapidly over the past few years. According to estimates, the Indian gaming industry was valued at approximately US$1.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach US$2.1 billion by the end of this year. The massive growth in this domain could be attributed to the increase in smartphone use, growing middle-class population, easy access to high-speed internet connections, rise in disposable income, expansion of e-commerce, and extensive use of online modes of payments. These factors enable companies and investors to tap into opportunities offered by the industry.

The mobile gaming segment, which accounts for more than 70% of the total market value, is the largest and fastest-growing segment of the country’s gaming industry. Moreover, the esports market is proliferating, driven by investments and recognition of esports as a competitive sport.

Challenges Faced by Game Developers

The exponential progress in the field of gaming has brought about numerous challenges such as complications involved in the protection of Intellectual Property (IP), game cloning issues, etc. With the rise of digital distribution, it has become easier for rogue companies to copy popular games and market them as their own, thereby infringing on the original game’s IP and reputation.

One of the biggest challenges in protecting IP in online gaming is the issue of game cloning. Game cloning occurs when one company creates a copy of another company’s game and markets it as its own. This not only infringes on the original game’s IP, but it can also harm the reputation of the original game and the company behind it. Game cloning is particularly prevalent in the mobile gaming industry, where the low barriers to entry and the ease of access to development tools make it simple for companies to create a copy of a popular game. Game cloning may confuse consumers or users, resulting in a loss of revenue for the original game’s developers. Such cloning also harms the reputation of the original game. In some cases, game cloning can also lead to negative reviews and decreased ratings for the original game, further impacting its business performance and success.

Another challenge in protecting IP in online gaming is the issue of piracy. With digital games, it is easy for users to obtain and share illegal copies of the game, which can result in lost revenue for the game’s creators. This is particularly problematic for smaller game developers, who may not have the resources to invest in anti-piracy measures. While some companies have attempted to use digital rights management (DRM) technology to prevent piracy, this can also make the game less accessible for legitimate users and can result in technical issues.

Protection of Intellectual Property

To combat the challenges of protecting IP in online gaming, game developers can take several steps. Firstly, they can register their IP, including trademarks and copyrights, to have a more robust legal standing in the event of an infringement. Additionally, game developers can invest in anti-piracy measures, such as DRM technology, to prevent the illegal distribution of their games.

Another way to protect IP in online gaming is by enlisting the help of the gaming community and collaborating with its members. Game developers can work with players to report game cloning and piracy instances, allowing them to take swift action to protect their IP. Additionally, game developers can engage with players to gather feedback and improve their games, creating a loyal and engaged community invested in the game’s success.

Conclusion

Though the challenges of protecting IP in online gaming are complex and multi-faceted, game developers can mitigate these challenges and ensure the success of their games through IP registration, anti-piracy measures, collaborating with members of the gaming community, etc. The gaming industry is constantly evolving, and the challenges of protecting IP in online gaming will continue to change. In this rapidly changing marketplace, game developers must be proactive in protecting their IP to remain competitive and receive the recognition and compensation they deserve.

Image Credits:

Photo by Ron Lach : https://www.pexels.com/photo/group-of-teenagers-watching-a-man-play-game-on-computer-7849517/

Though the challenges of protecting IP in online gaming are complex and multi-faceted, game developers can mitigate these challenges and ensure the success of their games through IP registration, anti-piracy measures, collaborating with members of the gaming community, etc. The gaming industry is constantly evolving, and the challenges of protecting IP in online gaming will continue to change. In this rapidly changing marketplace, game developers must be proactive in protecting their IP to remain competitive and receive the recognition and compensation they deserve.

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Impact of Budget on the Infrastructure Sector

The Budget 2023-24 facilitates infrastructure development by providing for the establishment of a finance secretariat and giving prominence to infrastructure projects and programmes.

Introduction

During the budget announcement on February 1, 2023, the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted that India’s per capita income has doubled in around nine years, and the country’s economy is expanding so rapidly that it is set to become the fifth largest in the world. The same is in line with the vision for Amrit Kaal, namely: –

  • Opportunities for citizens with a focus on youth
  • Growth and Job Creation
  • Strong and Stable Macro-Economic Environment

The term “Amrit Kaal” was coined by the honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for the first time on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day in 2021. The same was done while unveiling the country’s plans for the next 25 years. The purpose of Amrit Kaal was to improve and enhance the citizens’ quality of life and bridge the gap between rural and urban areas. It also sought to embrace emerging technologies while minimizing government interference in the lives of the citizens. With this vision, the Prime Minister stated, “While India has achieved quick progress, there should be a ‘saturation’ of development and 100 percent achievement, with every hamlet having roads, every family having a bank account, and every eligible person having health insurance, a card, and a gas connection”.

Budget Implications on the Infrastructure Sector

In the budget speech, the Finance Minister also stated that the Budget 2023-24 will adopt seven major principles and priorities that would serve as “Saptarishi” for the next quarter-century, which is expected to serve as a guide through the Amrit Kaal. The Finance Minister further specified that the Government’s aim for this Budget 2023-24 includes a technology-driven and knowledge-based economy, as well as strong public finances and a thriving financial sector.

The seven areas that the Budget 2023-24 primarily focuses on include:

  • Inclusive development
  • Reaching the last mile
  • Infrastructure and investment
  • Unleashing the capacity
  • Green growth
  • Youth Force
  • Financial sector

Under the ‘Saptrishi’ mantras, the Finance Minister outlined seven of the Union Budget’s top priorities for the year 2023, one of them being Infrastructure and Investments.

It is usually perceived that investments have a significant multiplier effect that enhances mobility, enables trade, development of employment opportunities, and increases the overall economic output. According to the Budget 2023-24, “Capital investment expenditure will climb by 33 percent to 10 lakh crore ($122 billion), or 3.3% of GDP, for the third consecutive year. This is about three times the expenditure in 2019-20”. This is likely to maintain financial stability and provide a buffer against global headwinds. This is also accompanied by a prolongation of the 50-year interest-free loan to state governments for another year, with a significantly increased expenditure of 1.3 lakh crore ($16 billion), to stimulate infrastructure investment and encourage state governments to take complementing policy initiatives.

To enhance opportunities for private infrastructure investment, the Budget 2023-24 envisages the creation of a new framework, the Infrastructure Finance Secretariat. The Infrastructure Finance Secretariat will aid all parties in their efforts to increase private investment in infrastructure, such as trains, highways, urban infrastructure, and power, which rely mostly on public funds. In addition, an expert committee will analyse the Harmonized Master List of Infrastructure to recommend the classification and finance system. The revitalization of fifty new airports, heliports, water aerodromes, and advanced landing fields is sought through the improvement of regional air connectivity. Further, one hundred essential transport infrastructure projects for last and first-mile connections for ports, coal, steel, fertiliser, and food grains industries have been identified to significantly boost India’s logistics sector.

These budget measures expand on the government’s National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) and other programmes, such as “Make in India” and the production-linked incentives (PLI) programme, to promote the expansion of the infrastructure industry.

Conclusion

The hike in capital expenditure by 33 percent to Rs. 10 lakh crore for infrastructure development for 2023-24 will certainly give a huge boost to the economy while increasing employment opportunities. There are positive strides in terms of the establishment of a finance secretariat that will in turn attract more private investment and the setting up of an expert committee will facilitate the appropriate classification of infrastructure and suitable financing framework. The Budget also takes infrastructure in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities under its ambit by setting up an Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) of Rs. 10,000 crore per year which will also promote innovation and reforms. The provisions created for metro and mass rapid transit system projects, sanitation, and urban housing look favourable for the growth of the country’s infrastructure. By reviving the infrastructure as well as facilitating infrastructure development in the future, the Budget significantly contributes to the economic growth and productivity of the country.

Image Credits:

Photo by Vlada Karpovich: https://www.pexels.com/photo/golden-gate-bridge-4449624/

The hike in capital expenditure by 33 percent to Rs 10 lakh crore for infrastructure development for 2023-24 will certainly give a huge boost to the economy while increasing employment opportunities. There are positive strides in terms of the establishment of a finance secretariat that will in turn attract more private investment and the setting up of an expert committee will facilitate the appropriate classification of infrastructure and suitable financing framework. The Budget also takes infrastructure in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities under its ambit by setting up an Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) of Rs 10,000 crore per year which will also promote innovation and reforms. The provisions created for metro and mass rapid transit system projects, sanitation, and urban housing look favourable for the growth of the country’s infrastructure. 

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An Analysis of the Regulation of Children's Online Activities Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022

The DPDP Bill was tabled by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on November 18, 2022, for comments. The purpose of the Bill was to provide for the processing of digital personal data in a manner that recognized both the right of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process personal data for lawful purposes. Though the object behind the proposed DPDP Bill appears to justify the need of the hour, the DPDP Bill has imposed certain additional obligations with respect to children.

Introduction

The internet has become an indispensable part of modern life. The significance it bears and the impact it has on young minds cannot be overstated. It provides them with access to a vast array of information and resources, including educational content, news, and entertainment. It also allows them to connect with others and form communities, whether it be through social media, gaming, or online forums. The use of the internet in day-to-day affairs of life has considerably grown over the past two decades. The leitmotif of this article is not to regurgitate the importance of the internet but to reflect on the intriguing debate over the regulation of the internet by parents with respect to children under the proposed Digital Personal Data Protection (“DPDP”) Bill, 2022.

The Gordian Knot

Section 10[1] of the proposed DPDP Bill deals with the processing of the personal data of children. The section states that ‘The Data Fiduciary shall, before processing any personal data of a child, obtain verifiable parental consent in such manner as may be prescribed’. Under the Bill, a child is defined as someone who has not completed eighteen years of age[2]. Every time a child creates an account, be it social media, gaming, or an OTT account, the Data Fiduciary[3] involved, which would be the platform providing the service, would necessarily have to secure the consent of the parent or legal guardian of the child before processing their data. The DPDP Bill also prescribes a penalty of up to Rs. 200 crores for its non-compliance[4].

The implications of this proposed section are vast. Currently, most social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram require the user to be above the age of thirteen years to create an account, without any requirement of parental consent. Practically speaking, these platforms do not verify the age as claimed by the user and thus, it is possible to provide incorrect age in order to create an account. The same goes for all other prospective Data Fiduciaries. From knowledge-providing platforms like YouTube and Quora to entertainment or gaming platforms like Spotify and Stream, all these platforms currently have set thirteen years as the minimum age to create an account and enjoy these services. To comply with the DPDP bill, in case it is passed, the platforms would not just have to modify their own terms and conditions for the Indian jurisdiction but also have to come up with a verifiable parental consent requirement mechanism. Since most platforms and websites on the internet require the creation of an account to access the features or services fully, enforcing Section 10 of the DPDP bill would require an entire overhaul of how the internet functions. There would have to be parental consent forms and verification mechanisms in almost all corners of the internet.

While mandating such monitoring of every online activity of a child might sound fit in an average conservative Indian household, it is important to understand that doing so fundamentally alters the very forte of the internet – accessibility to information. Curtailing this would have detrimental effects on any child’s development, by allowing the parents to restrict any chances of the child’s exposure to perspectives that might not agree with their own. This would also be in defiance of Article 13 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child[5], which India had signed and ratified on December 11, 1992. The Article promotes the “right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers” for children.

Untying the Knot

Perhaps one way to mitigate the issues that could arise if the proposed section is brought into effect is by introducing gradation in the age limit that it specifies consent for. In this respect, inspiration can be taken from the Indian Penal Code, 1860,[6] which categorizes children and provides for classification based on age (below 7, from 7 to 12, etc.) to determine the law applicable to them. Even the much popular General Data Protection Regulation, 2016 of the European Union allows member states to lower the age of the child to 13 years to determine if parental consent would be needed or not[7].

The rigidity with respect to parental consent should also be based on a model which considers the evolution and development of children at different ages. France’s model of children’s data privacy rights under the French Data Protection Act, 1978 which was heavily amended recently in 2018, could also be looked at. Article 45 of the said Act[8] introduces the concept of “Joint Consent”. It states that ‘If the child is under 15 years of age, the processing will be lawful only if consent is given jointly by the child and the holder(s) of parental responsibility over that child.’ This, in essence, means that the consent is based on a mutual agreement between the child and the parent(s) holding parental rights. With respect to children above the age of 15 years, the Act allows them to give their own consent.

Conclusion

Thus, while it is ultimately up to the lawmakers to resolve, they must keep in mind the logistical and sociological effects of enforcing mandatory parental regulation on children’s online activities. If not by reducing the age to a more reasonable one, as done by other jurisdictions, systems like gradation in age or joint parental-child consent should be put in place. In the case of Faheema Shirin R.K. vs State of Kerala[9], the Kerala High Court, specifically speaking in the context of students, stated that the right to access the internet forms a part of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. In the said case, it was held that ‘Enforcement of discipline shall not be by blocking the ways and means of the students to acquire knowledge’. The concept of “best interest of the child” which is much popular in custody and guardianship cases and puts the best possible alternative for the child before the rights of the parents, could perhaps be interpreted broadly and acknowledged by the lawmakers with respect to the present debate as well.

References:

[1] Section 10, The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022.

[2] Defined under Section 2(3), The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022.

[3] Defined under Section 2(5), The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022.

[4] Section 25, The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022.

[5] Article 14, Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 [General Assembly resolution 44/25].

[6] Sections 82 and 83, Indian Penal Code, 1860.

[7] Article 8, General Data Protection Regulation, 2016.

[8] Article 45, French Data Protection Act, 1978.

[9] Faheema Shirin R.K vs State of Kerala, 2019 [WP(C)No.19716 OF 2019(L)].

Image Credits:

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-using-a-laptop-with-her-daughter-7055153/

While it is ultimately up to the lawmakers to resolve, they must keep in mind the logistical and sociological effects of enforcing mandatory parental regulation on children’s online activities. If not by reducing the age to a more reasonable one, as done by other jurisdictions, systems like gradation in age or joint parental-child consent should be put in place.

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Music on the Block: How Music Artists can Benefit from Blockchain Technology

  • January 19, 2023
  • Mathews V C

All of us make use of music streaming services quite frequently. But have we ever stopped to wonder how the creators or artists get paid for their music? More often than not, music artists are forced to settle with modest royalty earnings. Nevertheless, the advent of blockchain technology has ushered in a new era and this technology has the potential to ensure that music artists get adequate compensation for their efforts and talent.

All have enjoyed music throughout the ages. The music industry has evolved from EP records to Cassettes to CDs to MP3s. Currently, music is enjoyed predominantly via digital streaming platforms such as Spotify, and Apple Music, and closer home services such as Airtel Wynk, Times Music, JioSaavn, etc.

However, the growth in streaming services like Spotify has not benefited individual artists who typically receive very little royalty overall because of slowing album sales. Taylor Swift, a famous musician, went to the extent of removing her music from Spotify due to the low per-stream royalty.

The advent of blockchain technology has set the stage for the music industry to undergo another evolution. With the blockchain, artists can create a token-based economy where the value is derived from an artist’s work. When a token is created, the artists convert their intellectual property into a financial asset that all of us can purchase. All holders of this token receive a portion of the artists’ revenue. Hence the more consumers of the content, the higher the token’s value. An artist thus can raise revenue through the launch of a token.

Tokenization of the asset also assists in the removal of the middleman. Currently, recording labels take away the majority of the gains. Recording labels also act as hindrances many a time for the entry of new artists into the business. A system based on blockchain eliminates the middleman, thus putting the power back into the hands of the creators. Funds are raised by fans rather than the recording label via tokenization. The flip side of this model is the lack of users.

A few platforms exist such as Theta.tv,  the YouTube of Web 3.0, or Audius (which is said to be the equivalent of Spotify or Apple Music). Having used these platforms, it is safe to say that though there is a vast scope, their success and similar platforms will depend on the consumers or users.

Artists can also utilize Non-Fungible Tokens (“NFT”) to create a new vertical of revenue generation from their work. Purchasing music as NFTs holds much value for both the creator and the collector. For one, there is a transfer of ownership.

In a world driven by music streaming, the conundrum arises of why a purchase of the rights in music would be required. The answer, as always, lies in the monetization of the asset. The purchaser sees value in buying the rights and reselling them later for a potential profit. Such music NFTs benefit artists at both the initial sale pricing and the secondary sales. Artists can earn from secondary sales in the form of royalties, especially if the underlying smart contract attached to the music NFT is so that they can earn future royalties on such sales.

Platforms such as Async.art help artists mint NFTs of their musical works, and Catalog Works let music fans bid on digital records. Award-winning artist, Ross Golan who has worked with renowned artists like Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, and rock bands such as Maroon 5 and Linkin Park, also recently minted The World’s First NFT Musical, The Wrong Man.  

There is still much grey area regarding the synergy between blockchain and music. However, the benefits, as well as the various avenues, are something that cannot be denied. In time, we are confident of innovative music-focused NFT projects, which will hopefully allow the creators or artists to get the compensation they deserve for their craft.

Image Credits:

Photo by Matthias Groeneveld: https://www.pexels.com/photo/set-of-retro-vinyl-records-on-table-4200745/

The advent of blockchain technology has set the stage for the music industry to undergo another evolution. With the blockchain, artists can create a token-based economy where the value is derived from an artist’s work. When a token is created, the artists convert their intellectual property into a financial asset that all of us can purchase. All holders of this token receive a portion of the artists’ revenue. Hence the more consumers of the content, the higher the token’s value. An artist thus can raise revenue through the launch of a token.

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The Curious Case of the Robolawyer (No, it's not a Perry Mason Novel!)

With the advent of technology, there is a drastic increase in the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) which has significantly altered the way technology is perceived and will have a far-reaching impact in the future. Hence, it becomes necessary to try to minimize its shortcomings and make prudent use of the technology.

I do not know how many of you have heard of Joshua Browder, the 26-year-old founder of DoNotPay, a US-based venture that has developed a “robolawyer”- essentially an AI-powered bot that helps users in use cases such as appealing vehicle parking tickets, negotiating airline ticket refunds, and contesting service provider bills. Although the app was first released in 2015, to be honest, until recently, I too had not heard of him or the app!

My curiosity was piqued when I recently read the news that his company is willing to pay a million US dollars to any person or lawyer willing to repeat verbatim in front of the Supreme Court judge all that their robolawyer asks them to. It remains to be seen whether someone will take Josh up on that offer, whether the US Supreme Court will grant permission and what the outcome will be. However, it is being reported in the media that the DoNotPay app will help two defendants argue speeding tickets in US courts next month. The company has promised to pay the fines on behalf of the users if the robolawyer loses their appeals.

The app runs on the AI model known as “Generative Pre-trained Transformer” or GPT. This is the same technology that runs ChatGPT, which reportedly hit a million users in less than a week of its launch. AI technologies are constantly improving, and there is now greater emphasis on “ethics” and “explainability.” Essentially, the software must be able to explain how it arrived at a certain conclusion or output. This is important to minimize, if not altogether eliminate, the risk of biases and prejudices that creep into AI software simply because it is trained using hundreds of millions of content elements on the web (articles, images, reports, videos, etc.) that were all created by humans, and as such, carry the individual beliefs, prejudices, convictions, etc. of their original creators.

Over the coming decades, AI will shake up many fields including legal practice, healthcare, finance, etc. Not all fields will be impacted at the same pace or to the same extent but change they will. Already, AI is being used by healthcare professionals in improving the efficacy of diagnosis and confirmation of lines of treatment. Law firms too are beginning to use AI to simplify the tedium of the process of trawling through case laws and legal judgments to identify precedents and the reasoning of the benches involved. Soon, lawyers will simply be able to type in questions into ChatGPT, which will provide well-reasoned answers in a matter of minutes. Of course, the real skill will be to ask the right questions and figure out how sensible the answers are, and decide on further courses of action. Think of it as an advocate briefing a senior lawyer before the latter argues in court.

Half-baked knowledge is dangerous. For many years, patients (and/or caregivers) have used search engines to find information about symptoms, diagnostic tests, and lines of treatment and then argue with qualified medical professionals about their choices, at times forcing doctors to explain their hypotheses and reasoning. It is quite likely that in the foreseeable future, clients of lawyers and law firms too will be tempted to adopt a similar approach, which means lawyers too will end up spending time and effort on educating clients on matters of law and jurisprudence. Maybe it is worth coming up with new pricing models to dissuade frivolous “brainstorming” and “legal strategy” sessions!

Note to myself: Try out ChatGPT to explore the kind of responses it provides and start preparing for a future that will undoubtedly be more closely linked with AI tools.

References:

[1] Design Application Numbers 274917, 274918, 284680, 276736, 260403

[2] 24 U.S.P.Q.2d (BNA) 1614 (BPAI Apr. 2, 1992)

[3] Apple, Inc. v. Samsung Elecs. Co., 926 F. Supp. 2d 1100 (N.D. Cal. 2013) (partially affirming jury damages award).

[4] US6763497B1

[5] US10915243B2

Image Credits:

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-using-macbook-3584994/

Over the coming decades, AI will shake up many fields including legal practice, healthcare, finance, etc. Not all fields will be impacted at the same pace or to the same extent but change they will. Already, AI is being used by healthcare professionals in improving the efficacy of diagnosis and confirmation of lines of treatment. Law firms too are beginning to use AI to simplify the tedium of the process of trawling through case laws and legal judgments to identify precedents and the reasoning of the benches involved.

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Registration of GUI as Designs: Existing Provisions and Challenges

  • January 13, 2023
  • Drishti Kardam

In this article, an attempt is being made to highlight how GUIs can be protected and to ascertain the challenges faced by applicants in filing design applications for the registration of GUIs.

Introduction

A Graphic User Interface (GUI) which allows users to interact with electronic devices or machines, is widely used in the present digital age. The term was coined in the 1970s to distinguish graphical interfaces from text-based ones, such as command line interfaces (CLI), etc. Apple’s GUI-based operating system – Macintosh, Microsoft’s Windows, Mobile Touch Screens, and other 3D interfaces (Eg. Augmented Reality) are all examples of GUIs.

Protection of GUI: A Look at Locarno Classification and Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021

Just as trademarks are classified into various classes of goods and services provided for in the internationally accepted NICE classification, Designs also have a classification of articles to which a design can be applied, known as the Locarno Classification.

The Locarno Classification, developed under the Locarno Agreement (1968), is an international classification used for registering industrial designs. India became the 57th member to be a signatory to the Locarno agreement in 2019. The changes were incorporated through the Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021, thereby bringing the classification of industrial designs at par with the rest of the world as opposed to the previous national classification.

Subsequently, on 25th January 2021, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified the Designs (Amendment) Rules, 2021, which substituted Rule 10 of the Design Rules 2001, and incorporated the current edition of the Locarno Classification, which specifically created Class 14 – Recording, telecommunication, or data processing equipment, with a subclass “Class 14-04 – Screen Displays and Icons”, and further provided for Class 32, allowing for two-dimensional graphic designs, graphic symbols, and logos, to be protected under the Designs Act, 2000, provided that these designs satisfy the essentials of an ‘Article’ and a ‘Design’ as defined in Sections 2(a) and 2(d) of the Act.

Lacunae in Legislation

As per the Designs Act, 2000, a design means “only the features of shape, configuration, pattern, ornament, or composition of lines or colours applied to any article, whether in two dimensional or three dimensional or in both forms, by any industrial process or means, whether manual, mechanical or chemical, separate, or combined, …”

Now, this is precisely where the problem arises. Even after the Locarno Classification was introduced and the Designs Rules were amended to deal with confusion and uncertainties in the classification of industrial designs, the lawmakers have failed to amend the definition of ‘Design’ and bring the Designs Act, 2000, along the same lines. Further, the Controllers make conflicting observations and the interpretations provided by them seem to lack uniformity.

A GUI should be protected since its intrinsic purpose is to enhance the visual appeal of the program and thus build on its commercial value. The definition of a design given under the Act is limited and does not expressly provide for graphics and/or software. Due to this lacuna, the definition is open to multiple interpretations.

Practice Followed by the Indian Design Office

Before 2009, Microsoft was granted registration for some of its designs under Class 14-99, in the ‘Miscellaneous’ category. Thereafter, in the year 2014, Amazon filed a design application under no. 240305 pertaining to a “Graphic user interface for providing supplemental information of a digital work to a display screen”, which was rejected by the Design Office, on the grounds that GUIs do not qualify as designs under Section 2(d) of the Act, they lacked “consistent eye appeal” and were not physically accessible.

Over the years, several new applications for the registration of GUIs have been filed. While a few have been granted[1], most Examiners opine that the GUIs do not fall under the definition of ‘designs’ and hence, cannot be protected. Hence, applicants are wary of filing design applications for registration of GUIs due to the absence of robust precedents.

Observations made by US Courts

In Ex Parte Tayama[2], the Court made the following observations –

  1. Programmed Computer Systems would suffice to be termed as an article of manufacture.
  2. Design (GUI) is an integral part of computer programmes.

Further, the patent battle[3] between Apple and Samsung (2011 – 2018) ended with Apple being awarded $539 million for Samsung’s infringement of its initial design. Apple was all the while contending to protect its “Total User Experience”.

Various Design Patents have been granted by USTPO, such as apparatus for displaying the path of a computer program error as a sequence of hypertext documents in a computer system having display[4], device, method, and graphical user interface for adjusting content selection[5], etc.

European Union’s Position

EU also provides wide protection to designs under EU Directive 98/71/EC on Legal Protection of Designs. GUIs in the EU are generally registered under the Community Design Regulation (Council Regulation No. 6/2002/EC) but may also exist as unregistered Community Designs. The regulation, however, excludes computer programmes.

Conclusion

The current definition of a design is inadequate and does not expressly cover the aspects of graphics/GUIs. Undoubtedly, the various developments in the IT industry have made the world realize the importance of protecting graphics. However, the introducing of international classification (Locarno Classification) and bringing amendments to existing laws are not sufficient. It is imperative to establish new guidelines and provide appropriate training to the Examiners at the Design Office so that a uniform mechanism is in place to facilitate the registration of graphic symbols/GUIs.

References:

[1] Design Application Numbers 274917, 274918, 284680, 276736, 260403

[2] 24 U.S.P.Q.2d (BNA) 1614 (BPAI Apr. 2, 1992)

[3] Apple, Inc. v. Samsung Elecs. Co., 926 F. Supp. 2d 1100 (N.D. Cal. 2013) (partially affirming jury damages award).

[4] US6763497B1

[5] US10915243B2

Image Credits:

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-using-macbook-3584994/

A GUI should be protected since its intrinsic purpose is to enhance the visual appeal of the program and thus build on its commercial value. The definition of a design given under the Act is limited and does not expressly provide for graphics and/or software. Due to this lacuna, the definition is open to multiple interpretations.

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Regulating Online Gaming Intermediaries - The Rules and their Implications

  • January 11, 2023
  • Padma Sinha
  • Ojasvi Agarwal

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released the draft Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules to bring online gaming intermediaries within the ambit of the IT Rules, 2021.

Background

Online gaming is one of the fastest-growing industries in India with the number of gamers expected to increase by 30 million from 2022 to 2023[1]. Following the increase in the number of users, it has become imperative that appropriate laws are introduced to regularize the online gaming industry. On January 02, 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (“MeitY”) proposed an amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules”). The IT Rules, in its current structure, provide regulation for social media intermediaries and significant social media intermediaries. The Draft[2] “Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules” (the “Draft”), which is open for consultation from the public, proposes to extend its ambit to ‘online gaming intermediaries’ forming a part of Part II (that relates to other intermediaries).

The Draft defines “online gaming intermediaries” and “online games” but lacks to provide a clear distinction between “games of chance” and “games of skill”, which has been a sticky issue over the years. The Draft further proposes (inter alia) the following changes –

  • All online games would be required to be registered with a ministry-approved self-regulated body by creating a self-regulatory framework, to be registered with MeitY. The self-regulatory body will be responsible for reviewing and registering the online games offered by its members, subject to certain prescribed factors. Games approved by the self-regulatory body may be offered with a visible mark signifying their registration.
  • The proposed rules also mention certain compliances that need to be made by the social media firms such as checking the registration of the online gaming intermediary and consulting the self-regulatory officer before allowing any advertisement on their platform.
  • The online gaming intermediary shall comply with the requirement of due diligence and shall additionally ensure they do not host any online game that does not conform with Indian laws and shall make additional disclosures to the users including the refund and withdrawal policy, financial risks, and other risks associated with gaming, measures that are in place to ensure the safeguarding of deposits, etc.
  • In addition to the above, a new set of due diligence requires compliance with mandatory know-your-customer(KYC) norms for user verification as per Reserve Bank of India norms.
  • Similar to the requirement for social media intermediaries, requirements of appointment of a resident ‘compliance officer’ and ‘grievance officer’ have been mandated along with ‘nodal officers’ for round-the-clock coordination with law enforcement agencies and officers.
  • The online gaming intermediaries need to have a physical address in India and the same is required to be published on their website.

Purpose of the Draft

The purpose of the Draft, if it becomes the law, is to protect the interests of different stakeholders, ensure the safety of players and encourage responsible gaming.  The Draft is also put together to bring about uniformity of laws that online gaming intermediaries may be required to follow by reducing the burden of following state-specific gaming measures making it, not just easier for online gaming intermediaries to comply with the law, but also helps the enforcement agencies since it becomes difficult for the governments of different states to ensure geographical checks are in place. According to the ministry, the final amendments to the IT rules would be notified by April 2023.

Discussions & Implications

While the Draft seems to have been aiming at shaping a burgeoning gaming industry, the concerns around the Draft seem to be supplementing the already existing questions on the existing IT Rules.

At the outset, the question of whether ‘online gaming’ should remain a subject of the ‘States’ (as betting and gambling have traditionally been) or the ‘Centre’, remains unresolved. MeitY had earlier, in affidavits before the High Courts, consistently stated that is not within its purview and power to legislate on the subject and that rests solely on the states. Therefore, the introduction of the Draft without consultation and consensus amongst states seems not quite in line.

The ambiguity further extends to a lack of clarity on whether the Draft bans ‘gambling’. While IT Minister, Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated that “online games that allow wagering on the outcome are effectively a no-go area” there is no clear prohibition on ‘gambling’. The Rules only state, as a part of due diligence, online gaming intermediaries shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that online gaming platforms do not contravene any gambling or betting laws in India, which again differs from state to state.

An online game has been defined in the Draft as a “game that is offered on the Internet and is accessible by a user through a computer resource if he makes a deposit (in cash or in-kind) with the expectation of earning winnings”- In the absence of a definition of “gambling” and “betting” in the Draft and clarity on which category of games are sought to be regulated if the online game for consideration is sought to be regulated on one hand and gambling or betting content is prohibited on the other hand, remains a question[3]. While it may be assumed that the ‘kind’ component in the definition has been introduced to cover ‘non-monetary token’ or ‘online gaming currencies’, it may lead to the consequence where games that do not require any monetary incentive may also be included within the meaning of online games here. The definition can almost broadly cover all ‘gambling games’ within the purview of ‘makes a deposit (in cash or in-kind) with the expectation of earning winnings’. Would that mean that ‘gambling’ is brought within the purview of these Rules?

The Draft classifies online gaming platforms as ‘intermediaries’. Our understanding of the term ‘intermediary’ includes one that acts on behalf of another entity. However, in the case of online gaming platforms, we notice that most of them publish the gaming content themselves and do not host games on behalf of another. In view of the above, in an earlier debate, a government task force submitted a study stating that gaming platforms should be categorized as ‘publishers’ and not as ‘intermediaries’[4]. The question that remains unanswered is why we now bring online platforms within the purview of intermediaries thereby giving them passage to ‘safe harbour protection’ under Section 79 of the IT Act.

Apart from the few above-mentioned points, the Draft may expect push-back from various industry stakeholders on the Government’s over-arching power on issues of revocation of registration of self-regulatory bodies and exercising regulatory power for KYC. It is to be observed therefore how MeitY resolves the already existing issues on the IT Rules pending before the courts and accordingly brings about an amendment to the current online gaming Draft Rules catering to the purpose it mentioned in its notes[5] accompanying the Draft Rules.

References:

[1] https://www.indiatimes.com/explainers/news/how-rapidly-is-the-gaming-industry-growing-in-india-589059.html

[2]https://www.meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/Draft%20notification%20for%20amendment%20to%20IT%20Rules%202021%20for%20Online%20Gaming.pdf

[3] https://g2g.news/online-gaming-laws/draft-online-gaming-rules-have-contradictory-provisions-ambiguity-can-still-continue/

[4] https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-task-force-restarts-debate-on-status-of-online-gaming-platforms-101666896702910.html

[5] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1888143

Image Credits:

Photo by Yan Krukau: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gaming-chairs-and-computers-9072216/

An online game has been defined in the Draft as a “game that is offered on the Internet and is accessible by a user through a computer resource if he makes a deposit (in cash or in-kind) with the expectation of earning winnings”- In the absence of a definition of “gambling” and “betting” in the Draft and clarity on which category of games are sought to be regulated if the online game for consideration is sought to be regulated on one hand and gambling or betting content is prohibited on the other hand, remains a question.

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Rooh Afza has Immense Goodwill: Delhi HC Rules in Trademark Infringement Case

  • January 9, 2023
  • Shreya Chaddha
  • Kanika Birje

The Delhi High Court gave its verdict in the trademark infringement battle between Hamdard National Foundation (India) and Sadar Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., and prohibited the latter company from using the mark “DIL AFZA” thereby protecting the trademark “ROOH AFZA”.

In a suit for trademark infringement by Hamdard National Foundation (India) against Sadar Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., the Delhi High Court held that the trademark “ROOH AFZA” possesses immense goodwill and that competitors must ensure that their marks are not similar to it. A two-judge bench, in its judgment[1] held that since the mark “ROOH AFZA” has been used for over a century, it can be considered a strong mark and, thus, restrained the Respondent from using the mark “DIL AFZA” until the suit is disposed of.

Hamdard National Foundation has filed the present appeal against the order[2] passed by a single judge bench of the Delhi High Court on 6th January 2022, rejecting an application for an interim injunction against Sadar Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. Both the marks are used with respect to sweet beverage concentrate. The Appellants claimed that the Respondents were infringing their marks “HAMDARD” and “ROOH AFZA”, and by selling these products under the mark “DIL AFZA,” they were passing off their products as those of the Appellants.

The Single Judge Bench held that the Appellants have to show that “AFZA” has a secondary meaning to claim exclusivity of their product. Therefore, the Court dismissed the application on the ground that they can claim exclusivity only for the mark “ROOH AFZA” as a whole and not just for “AFZA.”

Aggrieved by the order, the present appeal was filed by Hamdard National Foundation seeking a permanent injunction refraining the respondents from using the mark “SHARBAT DIL AFZA” or “DIL AFZA” on the ground that it is deceptively similar to the mark “ROOH AFZA.” The appellants further claimed that the use of this mark would deceive consumers and amount to passing off and also submitted that this would amount to dilution of the Appellant’s mark.

It was claimed that the marks “HAMDARD” and “ROOH AFZA” have been used for a wide range of products and constitute a well-known mark under Section 2(zg) of the Trademarks Act, 1999 owing to their widespread reputation and has therefore acquired goodwill with respect to the class of products pertaining to sweet beverage concentrates.

The Respondent submitted that by virtue of Section 29 of the Trademarks Act 1999, the allegations of infringement are not maintainable. It was submitted that the Appellants do not have an exclusive right over the word “AFZA” and that their mark has been coined by joining the terms “DIL” and “AFZA” and are not phonetically or visually similar. The Respondent submitted that there was no possibility of confusion between the two marks and every other aspect, such as the design and color scheme of “DIL AFZA” is also materially different from the Appellant’s mark. Therefore, there was no possibility of confusion between the two marks.

The Delhi High Court, after considering the arguments from both sides, stated that “AFZA” is an integral part of both “ROOH AFZA” and “DIL AFZA.” The word is neither descriptive nor normally associated with the product; hence, it is material in determining whether there is an infringement of the trademark. The Court further stated that the use of the word “AFZA” lends a certain degree of similarity, and the trade dress of both products is also similar, making the Respondent’s mark deceptively similar to that of the Appellants.

The Court reiterated that “ROOH AFZA” has been used for over a century and is entitled to protection. The mark is a source identifier with a high degree of goodwill and is susceptible to unfair competitive practices. The Court stated that prima facie, the Respondent’s mark lacks a sufficient degree of dissimilarity and hence set aside the order passed by the Delhi High court and passed an ad interim order restraining the Respondent from manufacturing and selling any product under the mark “DIL AFZA” belonging to Class 32 until the present suit is disposed of.

References:

[1] Hamdard National Foundation (India) & Anr vs Sadar Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. [Case No. FAO(OS) (COMM) 67/2022]

[2] Hamdard National Foundation (India) & Anr vs Sadar Laboratories Pvt. Limited [Case No. CS (COMM) 551/2020]

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Photo by Jessica Lewis: https://unsplash.com/photos/qscDBbXBGiI?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink

The Delhi High Court, after considering the arguments from both sides, stated that “AFZA” is an integral part of both “ROOH AFZA” and “DIL AFZA.” The word is neither descriptive nor normally associated with the product; hence, it is material in determining whether there is an infringement of the trademark. 

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Generative AI: Generating Legal Headaches?

The year 2022 saw major breakthroughs in the field of “generative” Artificial Intelligence. This field is different from the more traditional “discriminatory” AI models, whose algorithms rely on the datasets they are fed during “training” to make decisions. By contrast, “generative” AI models are forced to make conclusions and draw inferences from datasets based on a limited number of parameters given to them during training. In other words, generative AI uses “unsupervised” learning algorithms to create synthetic data. The output of generative AI includes digital images and videos, audio, text or even programming code. In recent days, even poetry, stories, blog posts and art work have been created by AI tools.  

Generative AI: The Socio-Economic and Legal Problems

Like every technology, generative AI too has pros and cons. While it has made it easy to create various kinds of content at scale and in much shorter timeframes, the same technology has also been used to create “deep fakes” that then go viral on social media.  

OpenAI’s image generator platform “DALL-E 2” and automatic text generator GPT-3 have already been used to create art work and other text-based content. GPT-4, which is expected to be far more powerful and advanced, is expected to be released in 2023. Until recently, Open AI did not allow commercial usage of images created using the platform. But it has now begun to grant “full usage rights”- which includes the rights to sell the images, reprint them and use them on merchandise.  

Generative AI has the potential to open a Pandora’s Box of litigation. A class action suit has already been filed against OpenAI, Microsoft and Github alleging copyright violations by Copilot, Github’s AI-based code generator that uses OpenAI’s Codex model. The argument behind the suit is this: the tool uses hundreds of millions of lines of Open-Source code written, debugged, or improved by tens of thousands of programmers from around the world. While these individuals support the Open- Source concept, code generators like Copilot draw on their code (which was fed to it during its training) to generate code that may well be used for commercial purposes. The original authors of the code remain unrecognized and do not get any compensation.  

A similar situation can easily occur with art work created using AI-based tools because all that such tools need to create a digital image is a text prompt. For example, Polish artist Greg Rutkowski, known for creating fantasy landscapes, has complained about the fact that just typing a simple text like “Wizard with sword and a glowing orb of magic fire fights a fierce dragon Greg Rutkowski” will create an image that looks quite close to his original work. The smarter text recognition and generative AI get, the simpler it will be for even lay people to use. Karla Ortiz, a San Francisco based illustrator is concerned at the potential loss of income that she and her fellow professionals might suffer due to generative AI.[1]

 Sooner than later, this challenge will be faced by playwrights, novelists, poets, photographers and pretty much all creative professionals. Indeed, AI tools could conceivably put writers out of business in the next few years! AI generators are “trained” using millions of poems, images, paintings etc that were created by persons dead or alive. Their creators or their legal heirs do not currently have the option to exclude their works from the training datasets. In fact, they do not even usually know that their works have been included.  

The creative industry itself is taking various steps to protect the rights of various categories of creative professionals. Such measures include the use of digital watermarking for authentication, banning the use of AI-generated images, and building tools that allow artists to check if their works have been used as part of any training datasets and then opt out if they so choose.  

A more pernicious problem could conceivably arise when deliberately or inadvertently, misleading content is created and posted- and consumed by innocent users. Some early examples of such misuse have already emerged, and there is a genuine concern that if these activities are not nipped in the bud and information on the internet is not somehow authenticated, serious, unexpected, and large-scale damage may be caused.  

Overhauling the Laws

In the US, AI tools may, for now, take legal cover under the fair use doctrine. But that applies only to non-commercial usage. Arguably, the current situation where researchers and companies building AI tools freely use massive datasets to “train” their tools violate the spirit of ownership and protection of IPR because these AI generators are also being used for commercial benefit. Also, as various lawsuits are already underway, changes to IPR and related laws will need to be made to explicitly enable AI. Not doing so will only impede the use of AI in various fields where such algorithms can deliver significant benefits by speeding up innovation.  

References:

[1] https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/09/16/1059598/this-artist-is-dominating-ai-generated-art-and-hes-not-happy-about-it/

Image Credits:

Photo by Tara Winstead: https://www.pexels.com/photo/robot-fingers-on-blue-background-8386369/

Like every technology, generative AI too has pros and cons. While it has made it easy to create various kinds of content at scale and in much shorter timeframes, the same technology has also been used to create “deep fakes” that then go viral on social media.  

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The Next Play- Block Chain, Sports and Tourism

The excitement and intrigue surrounding cryptocurrency might have fizzled out, but alternate use cases of the blockchain have found roots for varied purposes, such as electronic health records, land records, farm insurance, digital certificates, etc., across as many as thirteen states in the country. 

 

In partnership with a platform called Yunometa, the State of Tamil Nadu recently launched the Women’s Chennai Open in the world of Metaverse and NFTs on September 10, 2022 (https://chennaiopen.co/). With this launch, the synergies between sports and technology are being explored further. Sports enthusiasts will now be able to view the Chennai Open (women) in the metaverse and watch it live. 

The Chennai Open Metaverse will have a tennis court where visitors can choose their avatars, including their favourite players, and play a match. There is also a media section where they can visit and get regular updates on the events’ matches. The metaverse will further have two more sections, i.e., an NFT museum section to display tourism and culture for the State of Tamil Nadu and a section for virtual tours of Tamil Nadu’s most well-known tourist destinations, such as Fort St. George, Meenakshi Temple, and Mahabalipuram Temple, amongst others. 

It seems to be a great initiative not only to enjoy sports in a new way but also to showcase the culture of Tamil Nadu, which may have a ripple effect on the tourism industry.

According to a recent study by Finder, released in 2022, India is ranked first in NFT gaming adoption. As per the report, around 34% of the Indian population has played P2E games[1], while 11% have shown a willingness to play them in the future.[2] Further, the size of the Indian eSports industry is expected to grow to INR 11 billion by FY2025 and potentially generate an economic impact of INR 100 billion between FY2021 and FY2025.[3]

While the statistics paint an impressive picture of the industry’s potential, it would be imperative to note that the legal landscape is definitely ‘glitching’ while trying to adopt a legislative pathway that would foster yet effectively regulate the sector.

At present, the policy focus of the government pertains to taxation only. However, with the increase in the participation of gamers, it is also prudent to address user safety issues by creating guidelines and standards for privacy, fraud prevention, structuring appropriate KYC procedures and payment mechanisms, and ensuring overall ease of doing business, regulatory certainty, and taxes.

The policy initiatives undertaken by the government in the recent past, including the Online Gaming (Regulation) Bill, 2022, which failed to address key concerns such as privacy, age-verification of players, defining casual online gaming, and money-based gaming, have shown a lack of a comprehensive approach to resolving the crucial issues. Similarly, the Inter-ministerial Panel on Online Gaming formed in May 2022 has, till now, only issued a slew of suggestions ranging from issuing a cap on deposit and withdrawal limits on the game winnings to recommending forming a regulatory body to distinguish between “games of skill” and “games of chance,” differential GST treatment, blocking prohibited gaming formats, and issuing a stricter stance on gambling websites.

In addition, the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics Task Force (AVGC) was set up in April this year and commissioned to formulate a national AVGC policy to attract foreign direct investment in the sector and to recommend a national curriculum framework, facilitate skilling initiatives, and boost employment opportunities within the sector has yet to submit its first action plan.

The Draft Virtual Online Sports Regulation Bill released by the Rajasthan government in May 2022[4] seems encouraging since it envisages structuring a licensing regime and establishing a Rajasthan Virtual Online Gaming Commission that shall be tasked with recommending conditions for licences, recognising “self-regulatory organisations,” and issuing advisories, caution notices, and recommendations to self-regulatory organisations. However, the Bill only applies to “esports competitions, fantasy sports, and derivative formats as provided by the sports engagement platforms” and leaves poker, rummy, ludo, and other such games of skill outside its purview.

It is safe to conclude that, at present, the central and the respective state governments have fallen short of formulating a cohesive set of legislation on online gaming. Further, with the integration of blockchain with gaming, it would also be crucial for the government to finally take a stand on laws regulating cryptocurrency in the country.

Shaping a comprehensive regulation on blockchain gaming would also necessitate the concerted deliberation and collaboration of various stakeholders in the industry, as current laws largely fail to address important concerns such as privacy, fraud, user safety, and so on.

References:

[1] Games that require cryptoassets and NFTs for gameplays.

[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/cryptocurrency/india-leads-in-crypto-based-p2e-games-can-it-retain-the-throne/articleshow/92129288.cms?from=mdr

[3] https://www.ey.com/en_in/media-entertainment/the-dawn-of-esports-in-india

[4] https://finance.rajasthan.gov.in/PDFDOCS/REVENUE/10746.pdf

 

Image Credits: Photo by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

It is safe to conclude that, at present, the central and the respective state governments have fallen short of formulating a cohesive set of legislation on online gaming. Further, with the integration of blockchain with gaming, it would also be crucial for the government to finally take a stand on laws regulating cryptocurrency in the country.

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