As the world changes and technology grows fast, the way we think about trademarks is also changing. Trademarks which are used to identify and protect brands, have traditionally included names and logos. However, in the future, they will take on new forms, reflect new consumer behaviour and require new legal rules to stay effective.

India has taken a significant step towards simplifying its corporate consolidation framework with the codification of fast-track mergers under the Companies Act, 2013. Governed by Section 233 and read with Rules 25 and 25A of the Companies (Compromises, Arrangements and Amalgamations) Rules, 2016 (as amended), this mechanism enables a select category of companies to bypass the otherwise lengthy and complex National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) process. In parallel, Section 234 of the Companies Act, 2013 facilitates cross-border mergers involving Indian and foreign companies, subject to regulatory approvals—most notably from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). With recent regulatory reforms, India is positioning itself as a favourable jurisdiction for inbound mergers, including the increasingly relevant concept of reverse flipping—the relocation of company domiciles from foreign countries back to India.

While Indonesia’s first-to-file principle creates an opportunity for trademark squatting, Robbaita Zahra and Wongrat Ratanaprayul of Tilleke & Gibbins say Bitmain’s successful cancellation actions indicate the legal system’s ability to address unfair practices