This month of October 2025, India saw several changes brought under the subject of IP and its related laws. A few of them are as follows:
1. The New Draft Guidelines for making OTT Streaming Accessible to People With Hearing and Visual Impairments
On 7 October 2025, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) made a significant move with the release of the Draft Guidelines for OTT Platforms, to make digital content accessible for persons with hearing and visual impairments. The proposed framework calls for OTT platforms to add three key features:
- Closed Captioning (CC) or Open Captioning (OC) for dialogues, sound effects, and music.
- Indian Sign Language (ISL) Interpretation, presented through certified interpreters.
- Audio Description (AD) for visually impaired audiences, narrating scenes and actions.
Given the vast scale of content, implementation of the features has been suggested in 2 phases, starting with new content releases within six months and reaching full coverage in two years with the existing content, along with a quarterly track and progress reports. However, content like live events, podcast/ audio-based and short-form content (like advertisements) have been exempted.
2. The End of a 25-Year Trademark Battle Over the Word “Celebrations”
The Delhi High Court, on 10 October 2025, passed an order and finally brought peace between two confectionery giants, Mars and Cadbury, over the trademark “Celebrations.”
The dispute dates back to the 1990s, when both companies launched chocolate gift boxes under the same name. What began as a marketing coincidence evolved into one of India’s longest trademark conflicts, questioning whether a common word could be monopolized as a brand.
The companies, after nearly 25 years of courtroom back-and-forth, jointly filed a settlement petition, which the court accepted. Both agreed to withdraw all opposition and rectification proceedings and pledged not to initiate any future claims over the trademark. In a remarkable goodwill gesture, each party willingly agreed to donate ₹5 lakh worth of confectionery to government schools, but as directed by the Court, under the supervision of the Directorate of Education and Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA).
The court praised this gesture as a remarkable display of goodwill, symbolising how corporate rivalry can give way to compassion and social responsibility.
3. Justice Prathiba M. Singh appointed as Chair of the Advisory Board of Judges in WIPO
On 20 October 2025, Justice Prathiba M. Singh of the Delhi High Court was appointed as the Chair of the Advisory Board of Judges of WIPO.
Before this appointment, her journey has been marked by several milestones, from being appointed Chairperson of the first Intellectual Property Division of the Delhi High Court during the 2021 to 2022 session to being recognised among the 50 most influential people in intellectual property.
For the next two years, from 2025 to 2027, Justice Singh, in her personal capacity, will lead this advisory board, consisting of a distinguished panel of judges from around the world, who will guide and advise WIPO’s Judicial Institute.
Author: Gautam Bhatia, Associate at PA Legal
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