Topic 141 — Specialised Practice (Entertainment, Sports, Fashion)

SPECIALISED IP PRACTICE areas — ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS, and FASHION — present unique challenges combining multiple IP types with industry-specific frameworks. ENTERTAINMENT IP covers film, music, television, OTT/streaming, gaming, performance, talent representation, advertising, publishing — sectors where India has dominant global presence (Bollywood largest film industry by output; major music industry; massive OTT market). The framework integrates: Copyright Act 1957 (films, music, performers); Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023 (anti-piracy); Trade Marks Act (production house brands); Beijing Treaty 2012 (audiovisual performers; India member 2020); IT Rules 2021 (intermediary obligations); personality rights (Anil Kapoor 2023). Cinematograph Act 1952 governs film certification (CBFC). SPORTS IP covers team trademarks, broadcasting rights, sponsorship, merchandising, athlete personality rights — sectors with massive value (IPL ~$10 billion brand value). The framework integrates: Trade Marks Act (team logos, league marks); Copyright Act (broadcasting); Anti-Piracy framework; broadcasting/streaming rights agreements. Notable: BCCI vs. unauthorised sites; IPL trademark; sport tournament rights. FASHION IP covers brand protection, design protection, copyright in patterns/prints, trade dress, GIs (e.g., Banaras silk, Pochampally Saree, Kancheepuram silk, Phulkari, Madhubani painting). The framework integrates: Trade Marks Act (brand protection); Designs Act (industrial designs); Copyright Act (textile patterns + photography); GI Act (regional textiles); Madrid Protocol/Hague Geneva Act (international protection). Notable: Adidas v. Imran trademark; Christian Louboutin red sole; LVMH brand protection; Indian fashion designers in IP frameworks. Recent watershed cases shape these areas: Anil Kapoor 2023 (entertainment personality); Cinematograph 2023 (film anti-piracy); Toshiba 2024 (50-year trademark); Mars-Cadbury 2025 (food trademark mediation). This topic walks through specialised entertainment, sports, and fashion IP — frameworks, challenges, and strategic considerations.

1. Entertainment IP Foundational Framework

A. Multi-IP Approach

✅ Entertainment IP Multi-IP Integration

COPYRIGHT (primary): · Cinematograph films (Section 2(f)). · Sound recordings (Section 2(xx)). · Performers' rights (Section 38, 38A, 38B; 2012 Amendment). · Producers' rights. · Broadcasting rights. TRADE MARKS: · Production house brands. · Studio names + logos. · Talent agency brands. · Streaming platform brands. · Show + character names. DESIGNS: · Set design. · Costume design (limited). · Posters + visual elements. PERSONALITY RIGHTS: · Article 21 + Trade Mark + Passing Off. · Anil Kapoor 2023. · Generative AI threats. DOMAIN NAMES: · Brand domain protection. · Cybersquatting prevention. DIGITAL FRAMEWORK: · Section 65A + 65B Copyright Act (TPMs + RMIs). · Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023. · IT Rules 2021.

B. Indian Entertainment Industry Scale

Bollywood — largest film industry by output (~1,200+ films annually).
Tollywood (Telugu) — second largest.
Major regional cinema: Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi.
Music industry — major streaming markets.
OTT platforms — explosive growth (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hotstar, Sony Liv).
Gaming industry — emerging IP frontier.

2. Cinematograph Act + Copyright Framework

A. Cinematograph Act 1952

Effective: 28 March 1952.
Amended through 2023.
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Section 4 — examination of films.
Section 5A — certification.
Section 5B — restrictions on certification.

B. Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023

✅ Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023

Effective: 4 August 2023. KEY PROVISIONS: 1. ANTI-CAMCORDING · Section 6AA prohibits unauthorized recording in cinemas. · Imprisonment up to 3 years. · Fine up to 5% of audited gross production cost. 2. ANTI-PIRACY · Section 6AA also addresses online piracy. · Distribution prohibited. · Significant criminal penalties. 3. CERTIFICATION · UA (parental guidance) categories refined. · Strengthened framework. 4. ALIGNMENT WITH INTERNATIONAL · Beijing Treaty performer rights. · Modern anti-piracy framework. SIGNIFICANCE: · Strengthened film industry protection. · Aligned with international anti-piracy. · Substantial deterrence. · Continued evolution.

C. IT Rules 2021 + OTT Framework

IT Rules 2021 effective 25 February 2021.
Self-regulation for OTT platforms.
Three-tier grievance framework.
Government oversight.
Coordination with Cinematograph Act.

3. Performers Rights Framework

A. Section 38 + 38A + 38B Copyright Act

Section 38 — Performer's definition.
Section 38A — Exclusive rights of performers.
Section 38B — Moral rights of performers.
2012 Amendment — major reform.
Aligned with Beijing Treaty 2012.

B. Beijing Treaty Implementation

Beijing Treaty adopted 24 June 2012.
Effective 28 April 2020.
India ratified 2020.
Audiovisual performers protected.
Modern framework.

C. Anil Kapoor 2023 — Personality Rights

📖 Anil Kapoor v. Simply Life India, 2023 SCC OnLine Del 6914

Background — Anil Kapoor sought protection against misuse of his name, image, likeness — including by generative AI tools.

Holding — Delhi HC: Personality rights protected under Article 21 + trademark + passing off framework.

Significance — LANDMARK personality rights case in AI era; entertainment industry implications.

4. Sports IP Framework

A. Sports Industry Scale

IPL (Indian Premier League) — ~$10 billion brand value.
Major sports leagues + tournaments.
BCCI — major IP holder.
AIFF (football); HCA (cricket); BFI (badminton).
Major brand value through trademarks + broadcasting rights.

B. Multi-IP Sports Framework

✅ Sports IP Integration

TRADE MARKS: · Team logos + names. · League trademarks (IPL, ISL, etc.). · Tournament marks. · Star athlete personal brands. COPYRIGHT: · Broadcasting rights. · Live coverage rights. · Highlights packages. · Documentary content. DOMAIN NAMES: · Team domain protection. · Cybersquatting prevention. LICENSING: · Merchandise licensing. · Sponsor agreements. · Broadcasting licences. PERSONALITY RIGHTS: · Athlete protection. · Anil Kapoor framework applies. · Star Sports + Hotstar agreements. DIGITAL/STREAMING: · Anti-piracy. · UTV-style dynamic injunctions. · Live streaming rights. TRANSFERS + DEALS: · Athlete contracts. · Sponsorship deals. · Broadcasting rights auctions.

C. Notable Indian Sports IP Cases

BCCI v. Unauthorised Sites — pirate streaming.
IPL trademark protection.
Sports league brand protection.
Athlete personality rights extension.

D. Sports + IP Strategic Issues

Anti-piracy enforcement (live streaming).
Brand protection across categories.
Sponsorship + endorsement IP.
Athlete personal branding.
Cross-border enforcement.

5. Fashion IP Framework

A. Fashion Industry Multi-IP

✅ Fashion IP Multi-IP Approach

TRADE MARKS (primary brand): · Brand names + logos. · Product line trademarks. · Madrid Protocol for international. · Section 11(2) — cross-product protection. DESIGNS: · Industrial designs (clothing patterns, prints). · Section 2(d) Designs Act — definition. · Hague Geneva Act for international. · UP TO 100 designs in single Hague application. · 10-year term + 5 extension under Designs Act. COPYRIGHT: · Textile patterns (limited; Microfibres rule). · Photography of products. · Marketing materials. · Catalogue content. · Section 15 — 50 article rule. GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS: · Banarasi silk; Banaras Brocades. · Kancheepuram silk; Pochampally saree. · Phulkari; Madhubani painting. · Banglar Rasogolla (food). · 600+ Indian GIs. TRADE DRESS: · Christian Louboutin red sole protection. · Brand differentiation framework. LICENSING: · Brand licensing. · Designer collaboration. · Co-branding agreements.

B. Microfibres Rule — Important Limit

📖 Microfibres v. Girdhar, 2009 (40) PTC 519 (Del HC)

Facts — Textile pattern protection question.

Holding — Delhi HC: 50-article rule under Section 15 Designs Act. Reproduction in 50+ articles ends copyright protection; designs protection applicable.

Significance — Critical for fashion industry; designs vs. copyright distinction; Section 15 framework.

C. Indian Fashion GIs

GI	Region	Significance
Kancheepuram Silk	Tamil Nadu	Premium silk sarees.
Banarasi Silk + Brocades	Uttar Pradesh	Iconic Indian silk.
Pochampally Saree	Telangana	Tie-dye traditional.
Phulkari	Punjab/Haryana	Embroidery tradition.
Madhubani Painting	Bihar	Folk art tradition.
Patola Saree	Gujarat	Double ikat weave.
Bagh Print	Madhya Pradesh	Traditional printing.
Channapatna Toys	Karnataka	Wooden toys + crafts.
Bidri Ware	Karnataka	Metal craft.
Kolhapuri Chappals	Maharashtra	Leather footwear.

6. Notable Specialised Cases

📖 Christian Louboutin SAS v. Pawan Kumar, 2018 (Del HC)

Background — Red sole trade dress protection.

Holding — Delhi HC: Brand differentiation framework recognized.

Significance — Trade dress protection in fashion industry.

📖 Adidas AG v. Imran, 2017 (Del HC)

Background — Sports brand counterfeiting.

Holding — Delhi HC: Substantial damages + injunction.

Significance — Sports brand protection framework.

📖 Toshiba Corporation v. Tosiba Appliances, 2024 (Del HC)

Background — Japanese Toshiba's 50-year case against Indian Tosiba Appliances.

Holding — Trademark seniority + global reputation enforced.

Significance — Demonstrates international trademark protection.

7. Strategic Considerations

✅ For entertainment professionals — eight points

For films, register copyright + trademark + leverage Cinematograph 2023.

For music, leverage Section 31D statutory licensing.

For performers, leverage Section 38, 38A, 38B + Beijing Treaty.

For OTT platforms, integrate IT Rules 2021 framework.

For personality rights, leverage Anil Kapoor 2023 framework.

For piracy, leverage UTV-style dynamic injunctions.

For international expansion, leverage Madrid + Hague + Marrakesh + Beijing.

For licensing, leverage Section 30-32 framework.

✅ For sports professionals — six points

For team brands, register comprehensive trademark portfolio.

For broadcasting, structure licensing carefully.

For athletes, leverage personality rights + brand protection.

For tournaments, register tournament trademarks early.

For piracy, leverage live streaming protection.

For sponsors, structure IP-aware sponsorship agreements.

✅ For fashion professionals — six points

For brands, leverage trade mark + Madrid Protocol.

For designs, leverage Designs Act + Hague Geneva Act.

For traditional textiles, leverage GI Act 1999 framework.

For copyright, navigate Section 15 50-article rule.

For trade dress, leverage Christian Louboutin framework.

For collaborations, structure IP-aware partnership agreements.

8. Memory Aid — Quick Recall

✅ Quick Recall — Specialised Practice

Entertainment IP: Copyright + Trade Marks + Designs + Personality Rights + Domain Names.

Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023 — anti-piracy strengthened.

IT Rules 2021 — OTT platform regulation.

Beijing Treaty 2012 — India ratified 2020.

Anil Kapoor 2023 — personality rights against AI.

Sports IP: Trade Marks + Copyright + Broadcasting + Sponsorship + Personality.

IPL ~$10 billion brand value.

BCCI major Indian sports IP holder.

Fashion IP: Trade Marks + Designs + Copyright + GIs + Trade Dress.

Microfibres v. Girdhar 2009 — 50-article rule (Section 15 Designs Act).

Indian fashion GIs: Banarasi, Kancheepuram, Pochampally, Phulkari, Madhubani.

600+ Indian GIs registered.

Christian Louboutin red sole — trade dress.

Madrid Protocol + Hague Geneva Act — international protection.

🎯 EXAM POINTERS — TOPIC 141

Specialised IP: Entertainment + Sports + Fashion.
Entertainment IP: Multi-IP integration (Copyright + Trade Marks + Designs + Personality Rights).
Cinematograph Act 1952 — film certification (CBFC).
Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023 — effective 4 August 2023; anti-piracy.
Section 6AA Cinematograph Act — anti-camcording (3 years + 5% production cost).
IT Rules 2021 — effective 25 February 2021; OTT regulation.
Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances 2012 — India ratified 2020.
Anil Kapoor v. Simply Life (2023) — personality rights against AI.
Sports IP: BCCI; IPL ~$10 billion brand value.
Sports trademarks + broadcasting rights + sponsorship + merchandising + athlete personality.
Fashion IP: Multi-IP (Trade Marks + Designs + Copyright + GIs + Trade Dress).
Microfibres v. Girdhar (2009 (40) PTC 519) — 50-ARTICLE RULE under Section 15 Designs Act.
Indian fashion GIs: Kancheepuram Silk; Banarasi Silk + Brocades; Pochampally Saree; Phulkari; Madhubani Painting; Patola Saree; Bagh Print; Channapatna Toys; Bidri Ware; Kolhapuri Chappals.
600+ Indian GIs registered.
Christian Louboutin SAS v. Pawan Kumar (2018 Del HC) — red sole trade dress.
Adidas AG v. Imran (2017 Del HC) — sports brand counterfeiting.
Toshiba v. Tosiba Appliances (2024 Del HC) — 50-year trademark seniority.
Madrid Protocol — fashion brand international protection.
Hague Geneva Act — fashion design international protection.
Section 15 Designs Act — copyright vs. designs distinction (50-article rule).