eNews
IPR Policy expected to speed up clearances
NEW DELHI: Trademark pendency, which is at three months, is expected to come down further to one month by March 2017 following the shifting of the Intellectual Rights Property portfolio to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.
Trademarks filing increased by around 10 per cent and Trademark examination increased by around 250 per cent during FY16 till November as compared to FY15.
A comprehensive National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy was adopted for the first time in May 2016 to lay future roadmap for intellectual property. The aim was to improve Indian intellectual property ecosystem, hoping to create an innovation movement in the country and aspires towards “Creative India; Innovative India.”
This becomes relevant in view of the large number of cases pending in courts on copyright and the emergence of newer vehicles where software can be used, including smartphones and OTT.
The objectives of this policy are to increase IPR awareness; stimulate generation of IPRs; have strong and effective IPR laws; modernize and strengthen service-oriented IPR administration; get value for IPRs through commercialisation; strengthen enforcement and adjudicatory mechanisms for combating IPR infringements; and to strengthen and expand human resources, institutions and capacities for teaching, training, research and skill building in IPRs.
Subsequently, a Cell for Intellectual Property Rights Promotion and Management (CIPAM) has been created as a professional body which will be working under the aegis of DIPP for addressing seven identified objectives of the Policy.
During 2016, India signed memorandums of understanding in the field of Intellectual Property signed with U.K, Singapore and the European Union. An India-US Workshop was held on Protection of Trade Secrets organized by CIPAM.
DIPP Secretary Rajiv Aggarwal had recently said India’s IP framework was in the midst of a paradigm shift following the announcement of the National IPR Policy.
Aggarwal said while the Department was spearheading the overall policy, specific recommendations listed in the policy were being taken up for action by concerned ministries and departments.
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eNews
Aaj Tak launches video-integrated VPaper with Dailyhunt
Free, early-morning ePaper combines print layout with click-to-watch video
NEW DELHI: Aaj Tak has launched vPaper, a video-integrated ePaper developed in collaboration with Dailyhunt, as it seeks to rework the morning news habit for digital-first audiences.
The product, unveiled on 19 February, 2026, is a 12-page ePaper available free of charge and delivered to readers ahead of traditional newspapers. It combines the structure and editorial depth of print with the immediacy of digital delivery.
What sets vPaper apart is its built-in video functionality. Readers can tap on stories within the ePaper to watch related video reports, integrating Aaj Tak’s television journalism into a newspaper-style format. The “click-to-watch” feature aims to turn passive reading into an interactive experience.
The ePaper spans news, business, sports, education, travel and national affairs, positioning itself as a comprehensive morning briefing for mobile users. Aaj Tak brings editorial credibility and broadcast-scale reporting to the venture, while Dailyhunt provides reach across tier 2, tier 3 and Bharat markets through its distribution network and personalisation technology.
“With vPaper, we are reimagining the morning news experience,” said India Today Group CEO, digital business Salil Kumar. He said the format blends authority, speed and video storytelling while remaining accessible by being free and available before print.
Verse Innovation senior vice-president Sunil Mohapatra, said the partnership strengthens Dailyhunt’s premium news offering and bridges print habits with interactive digital consumption.
The launch reflects a broader push by Indian news publishers to experiment with formats that combine credibility, scale and engagement as audiences increasingly shift to mobile-led news consumption.
(Note: The cover image is AI-generated and meant for representational purposes only)
