Category: Volume 6 and Issue 7 of 2026

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION FOR VIRTUAL LUXURY GOODS IN THE METAVERSE: BALANCING INNOVATION, EXCLUSIVITY, AND ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGES

AUTHOR – AASTHA BHATNAGAR, STUDENT AT CHRIST DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY PUNE, LAVASA

BEST CITATION – AASTHA BHATNAGAR, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION FOR VIRTUAL LUXURY GOODS IN THE METAVERSE: BALANCING INNOVATION, EXCLUSIVITY, AND ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGES, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 891-899, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

In the opulent expanse of the metaverse,a digital realm where imagination converges with immutable code,luxury brands are sculpting empires from ethereal assets, leveraging non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchain to perpetuate exclusivity and heritage. This scholarly inquiry dissects the evolving paradigm of intellectual property (IP) safeguards for virtual luxury goods, drawing on pivotal jurisprudence such as Hermès International v. Rothschild (2023) and Nike, Inc. v. StockX LLC (2022-ongoing), where traditional doctrines of trademarks, copyrights, and trade dress are reconfigured to counter digital counterfeits and dilution. Yet, borderless virtuality engenders profound enforcement dilemmas, from pseudonymous infringers to jurisdictional ambiguities, exacerbated by decentralized platforms.

This paper introduces the “Virtual Exclusivity Nexus” (VEN), an innovative conceptual framework amalgamating blockchain provenance verification, AI-enhanced infringement detection, and harmonized transnational IP protocols to equilibrate technological innovation with the preservation of luxury’s intangible allure. By scrutinizing the symbiotic interplay between virtual and physical markets,wherein digital scarcity augments tangible desirability,we elucidate strategies for luxury maisons to transcend replication, forging

immersive narratives that intertwine cultural patrimony, sustainable ethos, and avant-garde artistry. A comparative lens on U.S., U.K., South Korean, and Indian regimes, informed by emerging economies’ unique cultural IP tapestries, advocates proactive trademark registrations, smart contract integrations, and policy reforms for a resilient metaverse ecosystem. Ultimately, this discourse envisions the metaverse not as an arena of contention but as a renaissance atelier, where IP fortifies the eternal prestige of luxury.

Key Words: Metaverse; Virtual Luxury Goods; Intellectual Property (IP) Law; Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs); Blockchain Technology; Digital Assets.

RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN RELATION WITH SOCIAL MEDIA IN TODAY’S DIGITAL ERA

AUTHOR – PRAGYA PANDEY, VRUSHTI SHAH & HITANSHI PAREKH,

STUDENTS AT KES’ SHRI JAYANTILAL H. PATEL LAW COLLEGE, MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA.

BEST CITATION – PRAGYA PANDEY, VRUSHTI SHAH & HITANSHI PAREKH, RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN RELATION WITH SOCIAL MEDIA IN TODAY’S DIGITAL ERA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 873-881, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

The right to privacy, though not explicitly mentioned in the Indian Constitution, was unanimously recognized as a fundamental right under Article 21 by the Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India (2017). This paper examines the evolution, constitutional framework, and contemporary relevance of this right in the context of social media and the digital era.

Privacy is a multidimensional concept encompassing bodily integrity, informational autonomy, communication confidentiality, and spatial freedom. It serves not merely as an individual preference but as a structural precondition for human dignity, democratic participation, and the effective exercise of all other fundamental rights. Judicially, the right evolved from early denials in M.P. Sharma v. Satish Chandra (1954) and Kharak Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh (1963), through progressive recognition in Gobind v. State of M.P. (1975) and R. Raja Gopal v. State of Tamil Nadu (1994), culminating in the landmark Puttaswamy judgment.

In the digital era, social media platforms connecting hundreds of millions of Indians operate on business models that harvest and monetize intimate user data. Citizens face mounting threats including mass data breaches, surveillance through programs like the Central Monitoring System, corporate data exploitation, deep fake abuse, and structural gaps in the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 compounded by widespread digital illiteracy.

To address these challenges, the paper recommends expedited implementation of the DPDP Act, enactment of a Surveillance Accountability Act, establishment of an independent Data Protection Board, statutory recognition of the Right to Be Forgotten, mandatory privacy-by-design for platforms, and large-scale digital literacy investment.

Protecting personal data on social media is not merely a regulatory concern it is a constitutional imperative determining whether Indian citizens engage with the digital world as free and dignified individuals or as commodified data points. Keywords: Right to Privacy, Article 21, Puttaswamy Judgment, Social Media, Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, Data Protection, Fundamental Rights, Surveillance, Aadhaar, Digital Era, Informational Privacy, Constitutional Law, India.

THE IMPACT OF INCOME INEQUALITY ON THE PREVALENCE AND PROSECUTION OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IN INDIA

AUTHOR – ARYA AGRAWAL, STUDENT AT CHRIST DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY PUNE, LAVASA

BEST CITATION – ARYA AGRAWAL, THE IMPACT OF INCOME INEQUALITY ON THE PREVALENCE AND PROSECUTION OF WHITE-COLLAR CRIME IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 882-890, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

This paper examines how income inequality in India affects white-collar crime and its prosecution. It says that when some people have more money than others, it creates chances for rich people to do bad things, changes what people think is fair, and affects how well the system can investigate and prosecute big economic crimes. The paper examines laws such as the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Companies Act. Looks at how the enforcement agencies like the CBI, ED and SFIO work. It shows that when the gap between people and everyone else gets bigger, there is more white-collar crime. It does not stop people from doing bad things as much, and some people are prosecuted while others are not. The paper suggests that the government should watch companies closely, make sure everything is clear, and help people who do not have a lot of money get fair treatment in the justice system. White-collar crime is a problem, and the paper wants to find ways to reduce white-collar crime and make the prosecution of white-collar crime more effective.

Keywords: Income inequality, white-collar crime, economic offences, prosecution, India, socio-legal analysis, enforcement agencies

THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY AFTER CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION: A STUDY OF JUDICIAL INTERPRETATION

AUTHOR – VIBHUTI, LL. M. STUDENT AT THE ICFAI UNIVERSITY, DEHRADUN.

BEST CITATION – VIBHUTI, THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY AFTER CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION: A STUDY OF JUDICIAL INTERPRETATION, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 861-872, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

The constitutional recognition of the right to privacy has been considered to be a landmark in Indian constitutional law, changing the balance of power between the individual and the state in a significant manner. This paper attempts to analyse the interpretation of the right to privacy by the judiciary after it was declared to be a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. In doing so, the paper will trace the development of privacy jurisprudence, from being an isolated right based on facts of particular cases, to becoming a holistic right which incorporates personal autonomy, dignity, informational self-determination, and decision-making freedom among other aspects. By means of a doctrinal research of judicial decisions made subsequent to the recognition of the right to privacy, the paper will attempt to critically evaluate how the courts have defined the scope and contours of the said right in various situations, including issues related to surveillance, data security, bodily autonomy and personal decision-making. The paper will also analyse how various constitutional tests like legality, necessity, proportionality, and procedural guarantees have been applied to strike the appropriate balance between the right to privacy and the interest of the state.

DEVELOPMENT VS CONSERVATION: A LEGAL AND POLICY ANALYSIS FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

AUTHOR – VEER PRATAP SINGH, STUDENT AT KES SHRI JAYANTILAL H PATEL LAW COLLEGE

BEST CITATION – VEER PRATAP SINGH, DEVELOPMENT VS CONSERVATION: A LEGAL AND POLICY ANALYSIS FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 855-860, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

The relationship between economic development and environmental conservation has emerged as one of the most pressing and complex challenges of the twenty-first century. As nations strive to achieve higher levels of economic growth, industrial expansion, and technological advancement, the resulting environmental consequences have become increasingly evident and alarming. Economic development continues to be a central objective of modern states, particularly in developing economies where it is closely linked to poverty alleviation, employment generation, and improvements in overall living standards. However, the processes that drive such growth—such as industrialisation, urbanisation, large-scale infrastructure projects, and intensive resource extraction—often place significant stress on natural ecosystems, leading to deforestation, pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. This growing tension raises critical concerns regarding ecological sustainability and the principle of intergenerational equity, which emphasises the responsibility of the present generation to preserve environmental resources for future generations. The challenge lies not merely in recognising this conflict, but in effectively managing and reconciling the competing priorities of economic progress and environmental protection. This paper undertakes a critical examination of this inherent tension by analysing the legal frameworks, policy instruments, and institutional mechanisms that have been developed to address these issues. It evaluates how environmental laws, regulatory policies, and governance structures attempt to balance developmental objectives with ecological preservation, often within the constraints of political, economic, and social realities.

A significant focus of this analysis is on judicial trends and the evolution of environmental jurisprudence, particularly in the Indian context, where courts have played an active and transformative role. Through innovative interpretations of constitutional provisions and the adoption of key doctrines such as the precautionary principle, polluter pays principle, and sustainable development, the judiciary has contributed substantially to strengthening environmental governance and accountability.

Furthermore, the paper adopts a comparative perspective by examining diverse case studies from different jurisdictions. Germany’s energy transition (Energiewende) illustrates how a developed nation can shift towards renewable energy while maintaining economic stability. India’s grassroots environmental movements, including community-led conservation efforts, demonstrate the power of local participation and resistance in shaping sustainable outcomes. Similarly, Sikkim’s transformation into a fully organic state highlights how policy innovation and political commitment can promote environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.

Keywords: – Sustainable Development, Environmental Conservation, Environmental Governance, Climate Justice

CINEMA AND CENSORSHIP: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS UNDER INDIAN CONSTITUTION

AUTHOR – SHAKTHI. V, STUDENT AT VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ADVANCED STUDIES (VISTAS)

BEST CITATION – SHAKTHI. V, CINEMA AND CENSORSHIP: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS UNDER INDIAN CONSTITUTION, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 848-854, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

Cinema in India occupies a constitutionally protected space as a medium of democratic expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India.^[1] Yet it has been subjected, since the colonial enactment of the Cinematograph Act, 1918, to a persistent apparatus of state regulation that has frequently overstepped the constitutional bounds of reasonable restriction. This paper critically examines India’s framework of film censorship through a constitutional, statutory, and comparative legal lens. It traces the historical evolution of film regulation from colonial pre-censorship to the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023,^[2] evaluates the foundational tension between artistic freedom under Article 19(1)(a) and the permissible restrictions under Article 19(2), and surveys the landmark judicial pronouncements that have progressively shaped the constitutional parameters of film certification. The paper further analyses the regulatory challenges posed by the rise of OTT streaming platforms and the adequacy of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. A comparative study of the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and Germany is undertaken to derive lessons for institutional reform. The paper concludes that India’s certification framework must transition from a censorship model to a classification-only regime — one that upholds adult autonomy, ensures institutional independence, and reconciles regulatory authority with constitutional guarantees of free expression.

KEYWORDS: Cinema, Censorship, CBFC, Article 19(1)(a), Cinematograph Act 1952, Film Certification, OTT Regulation, Prior Restraint, Proportionality Doctrine, Comparative Film Law, Freedom of Expression

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[1]INDIA CONST. art. 19(1)(a).

[2]K.A. Abbas v. Union of India, (1971) 2 SCC 111.

PHARMACEUTICAL PATENT STANDARDS AND REGULATORY APPROACHES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INDIA, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE EURO

AUTHOR – SUNDARAM* & EKTA GUPTA**

* STUDENT AT SCHOOL OF LAW, AMITY LAW SCHOOL, AMITY UNIVERSITY, UTTAR PRADESH

** PROFESSOR AT SCHOOL OF LAW, AMITY LAW SCHOOL, AMITY UNIVERSITY, UTTAR PRADESH

BEST CITATION – SUNDARAM & EKTA GUPTA, PHARMACEUTICAL PATENT STANDARDS AND REGULATORY APPROACHES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INDIA, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE EURO, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 835-847, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

At the intersection of intellectual property rights that seek to incentivise innovative activity (notably through patent law), the imperatives of public health that call for affordable access to essential medicines, and the requirements of international trade law that binds states to minimum standards of patent law protection. The ways, standards and tests of various jurisdictions with respect to the patentability of pharmaceuticals can have a serious impact not just on the commercial interests of pharmaceutical firms and generics but on the health and life of millions of human beings who rely on affordable medicines for treatment of life-threatening diseases. This article carries out a detailed comparative legal study of pharmaceutical patent standards and regulatory regimes of India, the US and the EU, which all stand at different poles in the international pharmaceutical patent debate. The purpose of the analysis is to examine how each jurisdiction interprets, and applies core patentability requirements to pharmaceutical inventions, how each jurisdiction addresses challenges that pharmaceutical patents pose including, evergreening, the patent-regulatory interface and so on, and how each jurisdiction uses compulsory licensing, opposition mechanisms and other features to manage the tension between the private rights of pharmaceutical patent holders and public health obligations of states. According to the article, the three jurisdictions have developed fundamentally different approaches reflecting their particular economic circumstances, public health priorities and positions in the global pharmaceutical value chain. Furthermore, the article makes evidence-based reform recommendations aimed at improving the alignment between pharmaceutical patent standards and global public health objectives.

Keywords: Pharmaceutical Patents; TRIPS Agreement; Section 3(d); Evergreening; Compulsory Licensing; Hatch-Waxman Act; Supplementary Protection Certificates; Data Exclusivity; Access to Medicines; Global Health Equity; Novartis AG v. Union of India.

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL TRIALS

With Special Reference to the Indian Legal Framework and Comparative Jurisprudence

AUTHORS – MR. PRAKASH.K* & MRS. JISHA J.S**

* STUDENT AT VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ADVANCED STUDIES (VISTAS)

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT SCHOOL OF LAW, VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED STUDIES (VISTAS)

BEST CITATION – MR. PRAKASH.K & MRS. JISHA J.S, A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL TRIALS, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 827-834, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

Medical evidence constitutes a foundational pillar of modern criminal adjudication. This article undertakes a comprehensive critical analysis of the role of medical and forensic evidence in criminal trials, with primary focus on the Indian legal framework and comparative reference to the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. It examines the conceptual basis of medical evidence, the statutory framework for its admissibility under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, and predecessor legislation, the typology of forensic disciplines deployed in criminal proceedings, the institutional arrangements for expert testimony, and the systemic challenges that undermine the effective use of forensic science in criminal courts. Drawing on landmark decisions of the Supreme Court of India and comparative judicial authority, the article identifies critical gaps in infrastructure, documentation, and judicial forensic literacy, and proposes comprehensive legislative, institutional, and operational reforms.

Keywords: Medical Evidence, Forensic Science, Criminal Trials, Expert Testimony, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, DNA Evidence, Forensic Pathology, Indian Evidence Act, Daubert Standard, Evidentiary Standards.

THE PARADOX OF PROTECTION: A CRITICAL STUDY OF ADOLESCENT AUTONOMY VS. MANDATORY PROSECUTION UNDER THE BNS AND POCSO ACT

AUTHOR – DARREN ANTONRAJ P A* & MS. C. SOPHIA JEYAKAR**

* STUDENT AT VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ADVANCED STUDIES (VISTAS)

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT SCHOOL OF LAW, VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED STUDIES (VISTAS)

BEST CITATION – DARREN ANTONRAJ P A & MS. C. SOPHIA JEYAKAR, THE PARADOX OF PROTECTION: A CRITICAL STUDY OF ADOLESCENT AUTONOMY VS. MANDATORY PROSECUTION UNDER THE BNS AND POCSO ACT, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 822-826, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344. DOI – https://doi.org/10.65393/IJLRV6I792

Abstract

Looking at how teenage independence clashes with required legal action under two Indian laws – the 2012 child protection act and the 2023 code – this section digs into a tricky balance. Though meant to shield young people from abuse, rigid enforcement sometimes labels mutual teen relationships as crimes, especially when ages are similar. Through the lens of fundamental rights – like life, privacy, dignity, freedom – an exploration unfolds based on what Article 21 guarantees. What emerges is not just legal overlap but real impact on youth navigating intimacy within boundaries drawn by law.

Nowhere does it overlook the “best interests of the child” principle anchored in global human rights standards. Often, fixed age thresholds in laws ignore how teens grow into their decisions at different speeds. While examining penalties, attention shifts toward girls – especially when charges arise not from harm but from disapproval of love across caste or faith lines. What stands out is how power shapes who gets accused, and why.Ending here, the chapter looks at how teens feel and cope when caught in court systems – shame tags along, moods shift, school routines break apart. Still, fairness matters most, so laws should bend with each kid’s story instead of pushing control over choice.

CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL NETWORKING CRIMES: EMERGING LEGAL CHALLENGES IN THE DIGITAL ERA

AUTHOR – BABY ZOENGPUII* & PROF. DR ARUN KUMAR SINGH**

* LL.M. THE ICFAI UNIVERSITY, DEHRADUN

** PROFESSOR, ICFAI LAW SCHOOL, THE ICFAI UNIVERSITY DEHRADUN

BEST CITATION – BABY ZOENGPUII & PROF. DR ARUN KUMAR SINGH, CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL NETWORKING CRIMES: EMERGING LEGAL CHALLENGES IN THE DIGITAL ERA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 811-821, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

The proliferation of social media over the past two decades has transformed communication, commerce, and civic life, democratizing information and expression while enabling new crimes like cyberstalking, online defamation, identity fraud, deepfakes, and disinformation campaigns. These threats challenge individuals, institutions, and the rule of law.

This dissertation conducts a doctrinal and analytical examination of social media crimes in India. It critically assesses the adequacy of key statutes, the Information Technology Act, 2000; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023; and IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, in tackling emerging digital offences. The study analyses judicial trends, intermediary liability, constitutional tensions between free speech and regulation, enforcement hurdles (anonymity, cross-border jurisdiction), and comparative frameworks from the US, UK, EU, Australia, and Singapore. It concludes with proposals for legislative, institutional, and technological reforms to foster a responsive, rights-compliant digital legal order.

Keywords: Social Media Crime, Cyber Law, Online Fraud, Deepfake, Intermediary Liability, Fake News, Privacy, Cyberstalking, Digital Evidence, IT Act, Freedom of Speech, Cyber Regulation, Digital Personal Data Protection