India: Dodd-Frank, Consumer Protection Act

On 15 June 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued, inter alia, the Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies – Responsible Business Conduct) (Second Amendment) Directions, 2026, introducing a comprehensive new chapter governing how non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) (including housing finance companies (HFCs)) advertise, market, and sell their own and third-party financial products and services, as set out under the Reserve Bank of India Directions, 2025.

The advent of digital advertising has brought trademark law into direct conflict with online market practices, particularly keyword bidding. The use of competitors’ trademarks by businesses to promote their own goods and services, albeit as invisible keywords, has often been debated as “infringement”, thereby causing unfair advantages and consumer confusion.

Geographical Indications (GIs) represent one of the most culturally significant and economically valuable forms of intellectual property.