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IP UNFOLD - Weekly IP Info Dec 29 - Jan 4, 2025

IP UNFOLD -    Weekly IP Info    1) Should Gukesh Dommaraju register his name as a trademark? World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju should consider trademarking his name and likeness, says legal expert Raghav Malik. With rising fame after his 2024 World Championship win, he risks unauthorized use by brands, similar to what Indian athlete PV Sindhu faced. Registering trademarks or securing image rights could protect his brand value and prevent misuse.   2)   KIPO warns Indonesian “Korean Ramyeon” commercial with NewJeans might deceive customers KIPO raises concerns over Indomie’s "Korean Ramyeon" product, fearing it may mislead consumers into thinking it's Korean-made. The product, endorsed by K-pop group NewJeans, has gained viral attention, prompting discussions about potential intellectual property issues. 3) Uzbekistan joins the Hague System Uzbekistan joins the Hague System, expanding WIPO’s global design coverage to 98 countries. Effective January ...

UPCYCLING - A WAY TO GENERATE IP

For many years recycling had been a big deal; However, Off late the word Upcycling has taken its place. Upcycling is a new and better way to treat trash and waste. It is nothing but upgrading the junk into new and useable products. In other words, reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original. 



Having explained what Upcycling is, my concern is the immense potential for generation of Intellectual Property that Upcycling offers.

   


 "The opportunity to upcycle trash, or turn it into new products, is vast"

 



 



 

 

Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless and/or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value. By Upcycling a waste product, you are giving it a new identity; for example waste water bottles, soft drink bottles, empty jam jars, old fabric etc., can be made into completely new products with no trace of the earlier identity.     

 


 


This new products are new intellectual property created and shall be protected using different intellectual property rights. One of the industries where Upcycling is common is fashion industry and interior décor. Mostly such products exhibit artistic craftsmanship. Therefore, qualify for protection under copyright law. Moreover, if a business is started naturally trademarks and branding come into play. Sometimes even a design registration of a product is possible.

 



Should Upcycling be taken seriously, revenue is sure to come. The potential for developing without any major investment is what is lucrative in this field. This justifies that age-old proverb “Old is Gold”. Turn your old stuff into Gold by creating different Intellectual Properties.