Aparna Sreedhar
Partner
IP Transactions & Strategy
Aparna has experience working with clients, ranging from individuals, start-ups and small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. She has represented clients in a diverse array of industries, including apparel, cosmetics, healthcare, hospitality, entertainment and media, electronics, technology, food and beverage, and education. In the WTR rankings, Aparna was described as “Responsive and thoughtful”.
Aparna’s practice includes handling every aspect of trademark and copyright prosecution and enforcement. She actively advises on IP oppositions and cancellations (including cross-border oppositions and cancellation actions), enforcement and litigation actions. She counsels clients regarding counterfeiting, and piracy and helps them devise effective enforcement strategies. Aparna has represented clients in contested proceedings before the Trademark Registry, Copyright Registry and IPAB (Intellectual Property Appellate Board). She has also represented clients in arbitrations for domain name disputes and particularly INDRP proceedings before the NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India).
Aparna specialises in structuring and negotiating various IP transactions for Fortune 500 companies (with deal value upwards of USD 1 million) including global assignments, mergers and licensing agreements, asset transfer and purchase agreements and IP Due Diligence. She actively negotiates and drafts NDAs, coexistence agreements, multi-jurisdictional settlements, co-branding agreements, franchising agreements, sponsorship agreements, production agreements, artist agreements and other IP content agreements. As part of her practice, Aparna advises and addresses clients’ queries on matters relating to setting up of start-ups, general corporate compliances, data protection, collection and use in India.
Aparna is an active member of International IP organizations such as INTA, IPO; and AIPLA, where she is the India sub-committee chair for the Copyrights Committee.
Aparna is an expert consultant/ adjunct professor with a reputed Film School in India as well as delivers guest lectures at Law Schools in India. As part of her speaking engagements, she is invited to speak in discussions and webinars by international and national organizations on areas of her expertise.
Practice Area
- Copyrights – Prosecution and Registration; Anti-Piracy; Civil & Criminal Infringement of Copyright; Licensing & Assignment; Disputes & Enforcement; Distribution & Syndication; Taxation of Royalties; Border Enforcement; Content Agreements; Production Houses, Celebrities, Artists, Personalities, Fandom, Privacy, Parody, Adaptation, Creativity & Art; Defamation, Debasement, Distortion & Denigration; Author’s Rights; Freedom of Speech & Expression, IP-Expressions; Copyrights & Related Rights in Social & Electronic Media, Advertising, Broadcasting, TV, Film, Music, Press & Publishing; Digital Rights & Digital Piracy; Intermediary Liability; Communications & Convergence; International Copyrights
Licenses, Accreditations, Internships & Education
- Advocate, Bar Council of Delhi
- B.S.L., LL.B., (Indian Law Society) ILS Law College, Pune
- Diploma in Business Laws, Asian School of Cyber Laws, Pune
- Diploma in National Security and International Relations, Deccan Education Society, Pune
Recognitions, Awards, Citations & Mentions
- Described as “Responsive and thoughtful” in World Trademark Review’s WTR 1000 rankings, 2021
- Described as “IP transactions expert”, in World Trademark Review’s WTR 1000 rankings, 2020
- Featured among recommended practitioners for Trademark Prosecution and Litigation in India by Leaders League, 2020
Publications & Submissions
Speaking Engagements & Related Events
- Delivered guest lecture ‘IP & Film Industry, Annapurna College of Film and Media Hyderabad, 2021
- Conducted webinar ‘Enforcement of IP Rights during COVID’ at ILS Law College, Pune, as part of Tech-IPR Webinar Series, 2020
- Moderated Table Topic on ‘Tackling Counterfeit: Effective enforcement in India and China’, International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting, 2018
Boards, Committees, Trusts & Positions
- Serves as Consultant at Annapurna College of Film and Media, 2021-2022
- Serves as Co-Chair, Copyright Law Committee’s ‘International Issues Sub-committee’ of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), 2020-2021
- Serves on the ‘Privacy and Data Security Committee’ (AIPLA) of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), 2020-2021
- Serves on the ‘Building Bridges Committee’ of The International Trademark Association (INTA), 2020-21
- Serves on the Copyright Law & Anti piracy Committee of the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), 2020 – 2021
Affiliations, Memberships & Participations
- Member, High Court of Delhi Bar Association (DHCBA)
- Member, International Trademark Association (INTA)
- Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- Member, Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)
Languages
- English
- Hindi
- Tamil
- Telugu