Course Content — 12 Weeks · 48 Lectures
Week 1
Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights
4 lectures · 2h 12m
- L11.1 What is Intellectual Property? History and Evolution
- L21.2 Categories of IP: Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights & GI
- L31.3 International Framework: WIPO, TRIPS, Paris Convention
- L41.4 Indian IP Landscape: Legislative Framework Overview
Week 2
Patent Law — Fundamentals & Case Studies
4 lectures · 2h 28m
- L52.1 Criteria for Patentability: Novelty, Inventive Step, Industrial Application
- L62.2 Patent Prosecution: Application, Examination and Grant
- L72.3 Case: Roche v. Cipla — Compulsory Licensing Debate
- L82.4 Case: Bayer Corporation v. Natco Pharma — First Compulsory Licence in India
Week 3
Trademark Law — Distinctiveness & Infringement
4 lectures · 2h 18m
- L93.1 Trademark Registration: Process and Grounds for Refusal
- L103.2 Passing Off & Dilution — Doctrine and Judicial Trends
- L113.3 Case: Amul v. Amulspray — Deceptive Similarity Test
- L123.4 Case: Yahoo Inc. v. Akash Arora — Domain Name Disputes
Week 4
Copyright Law — Originality, Fair Use & Digital Issues
4 lectures · 2h 30m
- L134.1 Copyright Act 1957 — Scope, Subject Matter, Duration
- L144.2 Fair Dealing Doctrine and Permitted Acts
- L154.3 Case: IPRS v. Eastern India Motion Pictures
- L164.4 Digital Copyright: Online Piracy, OTT, and AI-Generated Works
Week 5
Pharmaceutical Patents & TRIPS Compliance
4 lectures · 2h 40m
- L175.1 Product vs. Process Patents in Pharmaceuticals
- L185.2 Case: Novartis AG v. Union of India — Section 3(d) Patent Rejection ▶ Playing
- L195.3 Evergreening of Patents — Legal and Ethical Dimensions
- L205.4 TRIPS Flexibilities: Doha Declaration and Access to Medicines
Week 6
Trade Secrets, Confidential Information & Non-Disclosure
4 lectures · 2h 15m
- L216.1 Trade Secrets under Indian Law — Judicial Approach
- L226.2 Case: American Express Bank v. Priya Puri — Employee Confidentiality
Week 7
Geographical Indications — Darjeeling Tea, Basmati & Kanchipuram
4 lectures · 2h 22m
- L257.1 GI Act 1999 — Overview and Registration Process
Week 8
Industrial Designs & Layout Design of ICs
4 lectures · 2h 10m
- L298.1 Design Act 2000 — Registrability and Novelty
Week 9
Plant Varieties Protection & Biotechnology Patents
4 lectures · 2h 35m
- L339.1 PPVFR Act — Farmers' Rights vs Breeders' Rights
Week 10
IP in Digital Economy — Software, AI & Data
4 lectures · 2h 48m
- L3710.1 Patentability of Software and Business Methods
Week 11
IP Valuation, Licensing and Technology Transfer
4 lectures · 2h 20m
- L4111.1 IP Audit and Portfolio Management
Week 12
IP Enforcement, ADR & Emerging Issues
4 lectures · 2h 50m
- L4512.1 Civil and Criminal Remedies under IP Statutes
📢 Jan–Apr 2025 Semester: Enrollments are open. Last date to enroll: 29 January 2025. The proctored exam will be conducted in April 2025 at designated examination centres.
Course Duration
12 Weeks
Credit Points
4 Credits
Level
Postgraduate / Adv. UG
Language
English
Prerequisites
Basic Law / LLB I Year
Exam Fee
₹1,000 (Optional)
Course Description
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) form the backbone of innovation ecosystems, incentivising creators, inventors and businesses to invest in research and development. This NPTEL course bridges the gap between legal theory and practical application by presenting landmark IPR case studies from Indian courts, the Supreme Court, and international tribunals.
Students will examine real judgements across patents, trademarks, copyrights, geographical indications, trade secrets, and plant variety protection laws. The course equips participants with the analytical skills to interpret IPR statutes, understand judicial reasoning, and apply legal principles in professional settings — whether in law practice, corporate R&D, technology startups, or policy formulation.
Each week includes a theoretical foundation module followed by one or more case study lectures that dissect actual courtroom battles, the arguments advanced, and the policy implications of the decisions rendered by courts.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the theoretical and statutory foundations of all major categories of Intellectual Property in India and under international law.
- Analyse and critique landmark judgements such as Novartis v. Union of India, Bayer v. Natco Pharma, Roche v. Cipla and their policy consequences.
- Distinguish between patentable and non-patentable subject matter under the Patents Act, 1970 including the critical Section 3(d).
- Apply trademark distinctiveness tests, assess likelihood of confusion, and evaluate passing off claims with reference to decided cases.
- Evaluate the intersection of copyright law, digital media, and emerging technologies including AI-generated content.
- Examine Geographical Indication law and its role in protecting traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.
- Draft basic IP licensing agreements and identify key clauses in technology transfer arrangements.
- Formulate strategies for IP enforcement and understand remedies available under civil and criminal law.
Keywords & Topics
Week-wise Syllabus Schedule
| Week | Module Title | Topics Covered | Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to IPR | History, WIPO, TRIPS, Indian IP legislation overview | Assignment 1 |
| Week 2 | Patent Law I | Patentability, Prosecution; Roche v Cipla, Bayer v Natco | Assignment 2 |
| Week 3 | Trademark Law | Registration, Passing Off, Dilution; Yahoo v Akash Arora | Assignment 3 |
| Week 4 | Copyright Law | Fair Dealing, IPRS v EIMP, Digital Copyright & AI | Assignment 4 |
| Week 5 | Pharma Patents | Section 3(d); Novartis v UoI; Evergreening; Doha Declaration | Assignment 5 |
| Week 6 | Trade Secrets | Confidentiality, NDA; AmEx v Priya Puri | Assignment 6 |
| Week 7 | Geographical Indications | GI Act 1999; Darjeeling Tea, Basmati, Kanchipuram Silk | Assignment 7 |
| Week 8 | Industrial Designs | Design Act 2000; Layout Design of ICs | Assignment 8 |
| Week 9 | Plant Variety & Biotech | PPVFRA; Gene Patents; Monsanto cases | Assignment 9 |
| Week 10 | IP in Digital Economy | Software patents, AI & IP, Data Protection | Assignment 10 |
| Week 11 | IP Licensing & Valuation | IP Audit, Technology Transfer, Royalty Structures | Assignment 11 |
| Week 12 | Enforcement & ADR | Civil/Criminal Remedies, IP Arbitration, Emerging Issues | Assignment 12 |
Examination: Best 8 out of 12 assignments = 25% of final score. Proctored Exam (In-person) = 75% of final score. Minimum 25/100 in proctored exam required. Certificate awarded for ≥ 40% overall.
Course Instructors
VKA
Prof. V. K. Ahuja
Professor of Law & Head, IP Cell — IIT Kharagpur
Prof. Ahuja has over 25 years of experience in IP law research and teaching. Author of the widely acclaimed text "Law of Intellectual Property" published by LexisNexis. He has been a consultant to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and WIPO on multiple IP policy initiatives.
SR
Prof. Sarbani Roy Choudhury
Associate Professor, School of Law — IIT Kharagpur
A specialist in digital intellectual property and cyberlaw, Dr. Roy Choudhury has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals on copyright in the digital environment, online platform liability, and the IP challenges posed by artificial intelligence. She has delivered invited lectures at NALSAR and NUJS.
MB
Prof. Mohan Bhatt
Visiting Faculty — National Law University, Delhi
Former Deputy Controller of Patents & Designs at the Indian Patent Office, Prof. Bhatt brings invaluable practitioner experience. He has handled over 500 patent prosecution matters and has been an expert witness in several landmark pharmaceutical patent cases including those cited in the Novartis judgment.
Books & Reference Materials
- 1V. K. Ahuja, Law of Intellectual Property, 4th ed., LexisNexis Butterworths, 2022. — Primary course textbook covering all IP statutes with case law commentary.
- 2P. Narayanan, Intellectual Property Law, 3rd ed., Eastern Law House, Kolkata. — Comprehensive statutory analysis with Indian case references.
- 3Cornish, Llewelyn & Aplin, Intellectual Property: Patents, Copyright, Trade Marks and Allied Rights, 9th ed., Sweet & Maxwell, 2019. — Essential international reference text.
- 4Feroz Ali Khader, The Law of Patents: With a Special Focus on Pharmaceuticals in India, LexisNexis, 2007. — Specialist text on pharmaceutical patent litigation in India.
- 5WIPO, WIPO Intellectual Property Handbook: Policy, Law and Use, WIPO Publication No. 489(E), Geneva, 2004. — Available free at wipo.int. Essential reading for international IP framework.
- 6Novartis AG v. Union of India, (2013) 6 SCC 1 — Supreme Court of India. The defining case on Section 3(d) of the Patents Act and pharmaceutical patentability.
- 7Bayer Corporation v. Union of India, 2014 SCC OnLine Bom 1152 — Bombay HC. First compulsory licence case under the Patents Act 1970 in independent India.
- 8DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce, Annual Report on Intellectual Property in India, 2023–24, Government of India. — Statistical data and policy updates on the Indian IP ecosystem.
📂 Course Materials: Lecture slides, case briefs, and weekly reading lists will be uploaded on the NPTEL portal for enrolled students. Please log in to your enrolled course dashboard to access them.