From 3-hour takedowns to “advertising clearance”: Ranjan Narula on India’s rapidly evolving IP 

At INTA 2026, the spotlight turned to India as one of the world’s most dynamic and challenging jurisdictions for brand owners. In an exclusive conversation with CTC Legal Media, Ranjan Narula, Founder and Managing Partner of RNA Technology and IP Attorneys, broke down the massive shifts in platform liability, the influencer economy, and the high-stakes battle against “greenwashing.”

The end of safe harbor? 

India’s recently amended intermediary rules have sent shockwaves through digital platforms. Narula highlights a dramatic tightening of timelines for removing “inappropriate” content, which has shrunk from 36 hours to a mere three-hour window. Platforms now face a proactive obligation to label synthetically generated content or risk losing their legal protections.

“From 36 hours to 3 hours is a large amount of resources that the platforms would require in order to comply… the landscape has changed and shifted more towards platforms being more responsible than the earlier position.”

Influencers and the evolution of “advertising clearance”

As the influencer economy explodes in India, Narula explains that traditional trademark and domain clearance is no longer enough. For international brands, the strategy must now evolve into a broader “advertising clearance” that accounts for an influencer’s personal brand and specific taglines:

“The role of clearance has become much broader… if the strategy is that you’re going to push that through an influencer, then build that into a clearance strategy as well.”

India’s “creator economy“ approach to AI legislation

Comparing India’s approach to the EU’s heavily codified AI Act and the UK’s liberal stance, Narula notes that India is currently “playing it by ear“ while awaiting landmark court rulings. All eyes are on the Delhi High Court in the case of ANI News v. OpenAI, which Narula believes will have a “large amount of bearing on how AI regulations shape up in India.”

The high cost of greenwashing

Finally, Narula warns multinational corporations that India’s regulatory bodies—from the Consumer Protection Authority to SEBI—are cracking down on unsubstantiated environmental claims. He emphasizes that for modern brands, the reputational risk far outweighs the financial penalties:

“More than the fines, I would say it’s bad PR for the company if they get caught on the wrong foot… anything that you claim has to be supported by real evidence.”

Watch the full interview to gain deeper insights into the Dabur case, well-known mark protection, and how to navigate India’s evolving IP enforcement framework.

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