National Law University and Judicial Academy

Intellectual property rights (IPRs), as capital goods are essential in determining the rate of innovation, nature of competitive advantage, and systemic stability of bankruptcy and insolvency regimes. Current research explores the complex interface between IPRs and the valuation of the assets for bankruptcy. IPRs are financial asset to as these are a necessary element to determines the extent of sustainability and rehabilitation prospects of negatively affected businesses. The specific functions of patents, trademarks, and copyrights are potentially critical factors defining the outcome of insolvency. The discussion highlights the IPR-secured financing trends, through which such intangible assets are availed as security to lending institutions, thus impacting the liquidity of banks and the course of insolvency resolutions. The long-term analysis of legal opportunities and difficulties involved in the statutory incorporation of IPRs based on the precedent, regulatory framework, and cross-jurisdictional practices exemplifies the consistent inability to realize a sufficient value of property, often prone to economic and technological changes. Protecting IPRs would serve as agents in the financial market macroeconomic stability by carefully managing intellectual property amid the turbulent financial markets. There is need to engage in greater utilization of IPRs in bankruptcy situations and call for the establishment of legal and economic frameworks that can enable the smooth entry of such assets into the economy.

Sex work in India occupies a paradoxical position tolerated in practice yet criminalized and morally condemned in law and society. However, this paradox is not merely a product of legal ambiguity; it is deeply entrenched in India's historical caste hierarchies, gender norms, and systems of informal governance. This article critically interrogates the intersection of caste and sex work in India, focusing on how marginalized caste communities engaged in traditional and contemporary forms of sexual labor are governed not only by a punitive legal framework but, more insidiously, through caste-based informal regulation and entrenched social surveillance. The state's neglect, combined with a moralized legal discourse, contributes to what this article terms “legal apathy”- a systemic failure to extend legal rights, protections, or recognition to sex workers, particularly those from oppressed caste locations.

The sports industry is safeguarded by trademarks for branding, promotion, and broadcasting rights, which help sports develop more like a business rather than a recreational activity. Sports clubs and companies protect their brands and logos by trademarks for their income and competitive advantage. Ambush marketing confronts event organizers and official sponsors, leading to lawsuits and ethical problems. Trademark registration avoids unauthorized affiliations protecting the integrity of brands. With the evolution of digital marketing, regulations and enforcement are necessary to safeguard business interests and ensure the authenticity of sponsorship. In brand dilution, a trademark is not used appropriately, eroding its uniqueness and leading to financial losses. Arbitration is a favorite mode of settling complex trademark cases in the fast-changing international sports regime, providing confidentiality, industry-specific information, and enforceability across borders. This research explores the significance of arbitration in addressing several trademark issues associated with sports, such as image rights, sponsorship deals, and broadcasting and merchandising rights. It examines the pertinent case laws and arbitration precedents and the advantages and disadvantages of arbitration. The study also focuses on the digital innovations like esports, NFTs, and social media in arbitration. By situating the trademark arbitration in the wider themes of sports governance, commercial integrity, and protection of intellectual property, the research highlights fostering fair play and stable market dynamics.

This study examines marriage, divorce, and spousal responsibilities as customary practices within the matrilineal system of Meghalaya, focusing on the Khasi, Jaintia (Pnar), and Garo tribes. In these societies lineage, inheritance, and identity descend through the female line, yet decision-making authority frequently vests in men, particularly the maternal uncle. The paper analyses how marriage and its dissolution are conceptualised and regulated under largely uncodified customary law, the division of roles and responsibilities between spouses during marriage and after divorce, and whether the system empowers women or produces gender disparity by imposing a disproportionate burden upon them. It concludes that the matrilineal framework is paradoxical: it secures women's identity, inheritance, and social security and removes the stigma of divorce, but it also loads women with the greater share of child-rearing, economic, and domestic responsibility, compounded by the historical absence of legally enforceable maintenance obligations on fathers.

The World Customs Organization recommends that national customs prioritize branding and reputation management. In Ukraine, the customs authorities have been consistently ranked as one of the most corrupt sectors of public life, leading to negative perceptions. The article discusses the various factors that affect the public perception of customs, such as how the institution portrays itself and how it is perceived by the media, stakeholders, and the general public. Evidence suggests that the perception of Ukrainian customs authorities has improved slightly due to their effective response to the wartime challenges and their success in aligning with EU customs legislation. In addition, Ukrainian customs has recently significantly strengthened its reputation management through media and social networks, close cooperation with stakeholders, and taking an active public stance. However, the reputation risks remain incredibly high.