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UGC NET LAW (058) · UNIT 09 · MODULE 5: CROSS-TOPIC REVISION · TOPIC 11

Cross-Topic Revision Aids

Numbers asked again and again, institutions and places, matching pairs, a chronology for sequence questions, common traps and a practical plan.

  • 6 sub-topics
  • 5 min read
  • Topic 11 of 11

What this topic covers

6 sub-topics, in the order to study them. Tap one to jump to it.

  1. 11.1Master table: numbers that are asked again and againItem Number Copyright term (literary/dramatic/musical/artistic) Life + 60 years Cinematograph film / sound recording / photograph 60 years from publication Performer's right…
    • 5 years
    • India
    • 1 year
    • 6 months–3 years
    • ₹50,000–₹2 lakh
  2. 11.2Institutions and placesInstitution Place / note CGPDTM (HQ) / Trade Marks Registry Mumbai Patent Offices Kolkata (HQ, oldest), Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai GI Registry Chennai NBA Chennai PPVFRA New…
    • Mumbai
    • Kolkata
    • Chennai
    • New Delhi
    • Geneva
  3. 11.3Matching pairs worth memorisingCase Principle Novartis v. Union of India (2013) Section 3(d); therapeutic efficacy; evergreening Bayer v. Natco First compulsory licence (sorafenib), Section 84 Bishwanath…
    • Novartis v. Union of India
    • Bayer v. Natco
    • Bishwanath Prasad Radhey Shyam
    • Dimminaco
    • Ferid Allani
  4. 11.4Chronology (for "arrange in order" questions)1883 Paris → 1886 Berne → 1952 UCC → 1957 (Indian Copyright Act) → 1961 Rome → 1967 WIPO Convention → 1970 PCT and Indian Patents Act → 1992 CBD → 1994 TRIPS → 1996…
  5. 11.5Common traps to avoid in MCQsCovers 3(k) (software per se), Section 38B, Section 3A is technology neutral, Section 66A is not law, India is not a member of and more.
    • 3(k) (software per se)
    • Section 38B
    • Section 66A is not law
    • Section 69A is valid
    • Section 79(3)(b)
  6. 11.6A practical revision planCovers Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Final days.
    • Week 1
    • Week 2
    • Section 3 list
    • Section 9/11 grounds
    • Week 3

Revision mode hides the full explanations and keeps each section's key terms, lists and tables. Use it from your second read onward.

11.1Master table: numbers that are asked again and again#

In brief

Item Number Copyright term (literary/dramatic/musical/artistic) Life + 60 years Cinematograph film / sound recording / photograph 60 years from publication Performer's right…

  • 5 years
  • India
  • 1 year
  • 6 months–3 years
  • ₹50,000–₹2 lakh
  • 20 years
  • 18 months
  • 48 months
Item Number
Copyright term (literary/dramatic/musical/artistic) Life + 60 years
Cinematograph film / sound recording / photograph 60 years from publication
Performer's right / broadcast reproduction right 50 / 25 years
Default assignment period / territory / non-exercise lapse (Copyright) 5 years / India / 1 year
Copyright criminal penalty (Sec 63) 6 months–3 years; ₹50,000–₹2 lakh
Patent term 20 years from filing
Patent publication / request for examination 18 months / 48 months
Post-grant opposition 12 months from publication of grant
Compulsory licence (Sec 84) after 3 years from grant
Foreign filing permission (Sec 39) 6 weeks
PCT national phase (India) 31 months
Convention priority 12 months (patents) / 6 months (marks, designs)
Trademark registration / renewal 10 years / 10 years
Trademark opposition 3 + 1 months
Non-use removal 5 years 3 months
Nice classes 45 (34 goods + 11 services)
GI term 10 years, renewable
Design term 10 + 5 years
PPVFR term 15 / 18 years
IC layout-design term 10 years
IT Act extent / in force 17 October 2000; amended 27 October 2009
Adjudicating Officer limit ₹5 crore
Appeal to TDSAT / High Court 45 days / 60 days

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11.2Institutions and places#

In brief

Institution Place / note CGPDTM (HQ) / Trade Marks Registry Mumbai Patent Offices Kolkata (HQ, oldest), Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai GI Registry Chennai NBA Chennai PPVFRA New…

  • Mumbai
  • Kolkata
  • Chennai
  • New Delhi
  • Geneva
  • Abolished 2021
Institution Place / note
CGPDTM (HQ) / Trade Marks Registry Mumbai
Patent Offices Kolkata (HQ, oldest), Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai
GI Registry Chennai
NBA Chennai
PPVFRA New Delhi
Copyright Office New Delhi
WIPO / WTO Geneva
CCA (Controller of Certifying Authorities) MeitY, New Delhi
CERT-In / NCIIPC MeitY / NTRO (2014)
IPAB Abolished 2021 (Tribunals Reforms Act)

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11.3Matching pairs worth memorising#

In brief

Case Principle Novartis v. Union of India (2013) Section 3(d); therapeutic efficacy; evergreening Bayer v. Natco First compulsory licence (sorafenib), Section 84 Bishwanath…

  • Novartis v. Union of India
  • Bayer v. Natco
  • Bishwanath Prasad Radhey Shyam
  • Dimminaco
  • Ferid Allani
  • Eastern Book Company v. Modak
  • R.G. Anand v. Delux Films
  • Amar Nath Sehgal
Case Principle
Novartis v. Union of India (2013) Section 3(d); therapeutic efficacy; evergreening
Bayer v. Natco First compulsory licence (sorafenib), Section 84
Bishwanath Prasad Radhey Shyam (1978) Patent construction; obviousness; disclosure
Dimminaco (2002) Live-virus vaccine patentable
Ferid Allani (2019) Software with technical effect patentable
Eastern Book Company v. Modak (2008) Modicum of creativity
R.G. Anand v. Delux Films (1978) Idea–expression dichotomy
Amar Nath Sehgal (2005) Moral rights, Section 57
Entertainment Network v. Super Cassette (2008) Compulsory licence; balance of public interest
Rameshwari Photocopy (2016) Educational exception (Section 52(1)(i))
Cadila v. Cadila (2001) Deceptive similarity (pharma)
Amritdhara (1963) Man of average intelligence and imperfect recollection
Toyota v. Prius (2017) Territoriality; transborder reputation
Reckitt & Colman v. Borden Passing off trinity
Satyam Infoway v. Sifynet (2004) Domain names protected by passing off
Tea Board v. ITC (2011) GI (Darjeeling)
Shreya Singhal (2015) Section 66A struck; Section 79 read down
Puttaswamy (2017) Privacy as a fundamental right
Arjun Panditrao Khotkar (2020) Section 65B certificate mandatory

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11.4Chronology (for "arrange in order" questions)#

In brief

1883 Paris → 1886 Berne → 1952 UCC → 1957 (Indian Copyright Act) → 1961 Rome → 1967 WIPO Convention → 1970 PCT and Indian Patents Act → 1992 CBD → 1994 TRIPS → 1996…

1883 Paris → 1886 Berne → 1952 UCC → 1957 (Indian Copyright Act) → 1961 Rome → 1967 WIPO Convention → 1970 PCT and Indian Patents Act → 1992 CBD → 1994 TRIPS → 1996 WCT/WPPT, UNCITRAL Model Law → 1999 Trade Marks Act, GI Act → 2000 IT Act, Designs Act, SICLD Act → 2001 PPVFR Act, TKDL, Doha Declaration → 2002 Biological Diversity Act, Patents Amendment (20-year term) → 2005 Product patents → 2008 IT Amendment → 2010 Nagoya → 2012 Copyright Amendment → 2013 Novartis, Madrid Protocol (India) → 2015 Shreya Singhal → 2016 National IPR Policy → 2017 Puttaswamy, Trade Marks Rules → 2018 WCT/WPPT (India) → 2021 IPAB abolished → 2023 BD Amendment, DPDP Act, BNS/BNSS/BSA enacted → 2024 WIPO GRATK Treaty, BNS in force, Patents Amendment Rules → 2025 DPDP Rules, Online Gaming Act.

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11.5Common traps to avoid in MCQs#

In brief

Covers 3(k) (software per se), Section 38B, Section 3A is technology neutral, Section 66A is not law, India is not a member of and more.

  • 3(k) (software per se)
  • Section 38B
  • Section 66A is not law
  • Section 69A is valid
  • Section 79(3)(b)
  • India is not a member of
  • IPAB no longer exists
  • CAT is merged into TDSAT

  1. Berne minimum is life + 50; India gives life + 60. Do not mix them.

  2. Section 3(d) (new form of known substance) is different from Section 3(e) (mere admixture) and from 3(k) (software per se).

  3. Pre-grant opposition (Section 25(1)) can be filed by any person; post-grant (25(2)) by a person interested within 12 months of publication of grant.

  4. Compulsory licence under Section 84 is available only after 3 years, whereas Section 92 can be invoked at any time.

  5. GI rights cannot be assigned or licensed (Section 24); trademarks can. GI: association of producers; no individual applicant.

  6. Moral rights (Section 57) survive assignment; performer's moral rights are in Section 38B.

  7. Digital signature is a type of electronic signature under the IT Act; Section 3A is technology neutral.

  8. Section 43 is civil (compensation); Section 66 is criminal and requires dishonest or fraudulent intention.

  9. Section 66A is not law (struck down); Section 69A is valid; Section 79(3)(b) requires court/government order.

  10. India is not a member of the Rome Convention, UPOV, Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, Patent Law Treaty (check each before answering).

  11. IPAB no longer exists: appeals go to the High Court; CAT is merged into TDSAT.

  12. Biodiversity approvals: Section 3 (foreigners/foreign-controlled entities, NBA), Section 7 (Indian users, SBB intimation). Do not swap NBA and SBB.

  13. The Information Technology Act does not apply to negotiable instruments (other than cheques), powers of attorney, trusts, wills, and contracts for the sale/conveyance of immovable property.

  14. TRIPS vs Berne: TRIPS incorporates Berne except moral rights (Art. 6bis).

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11.6A practical revision plan#

In brief

Covers Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Final days.

  • Week 1
  • Week 2
  • Section 3 list
  • Section 9/11 grounds
  • Week 3
  • Final days

  • Week 1: Topics 1–3 and Copyright (4); make flashcards for numbers, sections and cases.

  • Week 2: Patents (5) and Trademarks (6), with the Section 3 list, Section 9/11 grounds and procedures written out from memory.

  • Week 3: GI (7), Biodiversity/TK (8) and IT law (9–10): tables of sections and penalties.

  • Final days: the master tables in Section 11, the recent-amendment list in Section 0, and previous years' papers (focus on option elimination: wrong time periods and swapped section numbers).

Disclaimer: these notes are a study aid compiled from the Acts and leading cases; recent items marked "verify" (rules, commencement dates, ratification counts and pending litigation) can change, so confirm them from the bare Acts, India Code, official gazette notifications and WIPO/WTO sources before the exam.

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↑ Module 5: Cross-Topic Revision · All 12 topics in Intellectual Property Rights and IT Law · Unit overview and sample MCQs

Last updated: . Notes are a revision aid; check official UGC sources for any rule or scheme that changes over time. Spotted a mistake? Write to netlawverse@gmail.com.