Microsoft power point domain and cyber squatting [compatibility mode]

Domain Name Disputes, Domain Name Disputes, Cyber squatting & Cyber squatting &

Internet IssuesInternet Issues

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Internet IssuesInternet Issues

SanjeevSanjeev Kumar Kumar chaswalchaswalAdvocate & IPR Attorney LLM (IPR& Advocate & IPR Attorney LLM (IPR& ARB LAW) M.S. Cyber Law and Cyber ARB LAW) M.S. Cyber Law and Cyber

Security Security 1010thth of June 2012of June 2012

Introduction Introduction uuWhatWhat isis domaindomain namename -- domaindomain namename isis anan

identificationidentification labellabel thatthat definesdefines aa realmrealm ofofadministrativeadministrative autonomy,autonomy, authority,authority, oror controlcontrol ininthethe InternetInternet,, basedbased onon thethe DomainDomain NameNameSystemSystem (DNS)(DNS)

uu WheneverWhenever humanhuman beingsbeings useuse aa wordword toto identifyidentify aauu WheneverWhenever humanhuman beingsbeings useuse aa wordword toto identifyidentify aabusinessbusiness trademarktrademark lawlaw comescomes intointo playplay

uu UniqueUnique URLURL addressesaddressesuu InternetInternet protocolprotocol startedstarted asas aa seriesseries ofof numbersnumbers thatthat

werewere difficultdifficult toto rememberrememberuu DomainDomain namesnames startedstarted beingbeing useduseduu UsefulUseful mnemonicmnemonic meansmeans ofof locatinglocating specificspecific computerscomputers

onon thethe InternetInternet

Domain Name System (DNS)Domain Name System (DNS)uu DomainDomain NameName SystemSystem (DNS),(DNS), inin computercomputer communications,communications, aa

methodmethod ofof translatingtranslating InternetInternet addressesaddresses soso thatthat computerscomputersconnectedconnected inin thethe InternetInternet cancan findfind eacheach otherother.. AA DNSDNS serverservertranslatestranslates aa numericalnumerical addressaddress assignedassigned toto aa computercomputer (such(such asas207207..4646..228228..9191)) intointo aa sequencesequence ofof words,words, andand vicevice versaversa..

uu AA domaindomain name,name, writtenwritten inin lowercaselowercase lettersletters withwith wordswords separatedseparatedbyby periods,periods, takestakes thethe formform ofof username@[email protected] (for(forexampleexample:: president@[email protected]))..

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exampleexample:: president@[email protected]))..

uu UsernameUsername isis thethe namename oror accountaccount numbernumber usedused toto loglog onon.. TheThehostnamehostname (Whitehouse(Whitehouse inin thethe exampleexample above)above) isis thethe namename ofof thethecomputercomputer oror InternetInternet providerprovider;; itit maymay consistconsist ofof severalseveral partsparts..ZonenameZonename indicatesindicates thethe typetype ofof organizationorganization.. CommonCommon zonezone namesnamesincludeinclude comcom (commercial(commercial organization),organization), eduedu (educational),(educational), govgov(government),(government), andand netnet (networking(networking organization)organization)..

Functions of Domain NamesFunctions of Domain Names

uu InIn thethe contextcontext ofof electronicelectronic commerce,commerce, domaindomain namesnamesserveserve strategicstrategic andand importantimportant functionsfunctions forfor bothbothindividualsindividuals andand corporationscorporations thatthat embarkembark thethe worldwideworldwidewebweb..

uu AmongAmong otherother things,things, itit servesserves thethe purposepurpose ofof branding,branding,

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uu AmongAmong otherother things,things, itit servesserves thethe purposepurpose ofof branding,branding,reputationreputation buildingbuilding andand convenientconvenient wayway toto establishestablishconsumers’consumers’ identificationidentification andand recognitionrecognition ofof thethe goodsgoods ororservicesservices toto bebe offeredoffered onlineonline..

Registration System of TM and Registration System of TM and DNSDNS

uu TradeTrade MarksMarks registrationregistration areare acquiredacquired onon thethe basisbasis ofofestablishingestablishing thethe distinctivenessdistinctiveness ofof thethe markmark fromfrom thosethoseexistexist beforebefore.. ThusThus aa TMTM cannotcannot bebe registeredregistered unlessunless ititfulfillsfulfills legallegal requirementsrequirements ofof TMTM includingincluding distinctivenessdistinctivenessandand eligibilityeligibility.. ThisThis registrationregistration isis jurisdictionjurisdiction basisbasis..

uu Meanwhile,Meanwhile, domaindomain namename cancan alwaysalways bebe registeredregistered bybyanyoneanyone anywhereanywhere inin thethe partpart ofof thethe worldworld onon ‘first‘first comecome

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anyoneanyone anywhereanywhere inin thethe partpart ofof thethe worldworld onon ‘first‘first comecomefirstfirst serve’serve’ basis,basis, withoutwithout necessitynecessity ofof checkingchecking ifif thethe saidsaidnamename hashas beenbeen everever registeredregistered asas tradetrade markmark byby otherotherpeoplepeople oror entitiesentities..

uu ThisThis situationsituation hashas resultedresulted inin manymany conflictsconflicts betweenbetween thetheownerowner ofof registeredregistered tradetrade marksmarks andand ownerowner ofof aa domaindomainnamename..

How The Domain Name System Works

—— ICANN ICANN –– Internet Corporation for Assigned Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and NumbersNames and Numbers

ICANNICANN--Accredited RegistriesAccredited Registries

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—— ICANNICANN--Accredited RegistriesAccredited Registries

—— ICANNICANN--Accredited RegistrarsAccredited Registrars

—— Domain Name RegistrantsDomain Name Registrants

Domain name hierarchy Domain name hierarchy

WHOIS Records

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Types of DomainsTypes of Domains

—— CountryCountry--Code Top Level Domains Code Top Level Domains ––ccTLDsccTLDs——Generally, TLDs with two (2) lettersGenerally, TLDs with two (2) letters

Examples:Examples: .us .us ..cncn ..mxmx .. ..jpjp ..ukuk

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—— Examples:Examples: .us .us ..cncn ..mxmx .. ..jpjp ..ukuk

—— Over 250 Over 250 ccTDLsccTDLs

—— May be additional tiers within the May be additional tiers within the ccTLDsccTLDs—— ..com.aucom.au; .; .edu.auedu.au—— ..co.ukco.uk; .; .ltd.ukltd.uk

—— May require local presence for registrationMay require local presence for registration

Trademarks v. Domain Names

—— Trademark Infringement IssuesTrademark Infringement Issues——Cyber squatting /Typo squattingCyber squatting /Typo squatting

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——How is the domain name used? What is the How is the domain name used? What is the posted content?posted content?

——Domain Name Watch Services Available Domain Name Watch Services Available

Conflict between TM and DNSConflict between TM and DNS

uu TheThe ‘conflict’‘conflict’ centerscenters inin thethe followingfollowing issuesissues::

–– CanCan aa personperson registerregister forfor domaindomain namename thosethose namesnameseverever registeredregistered earlierearlier asas tradetrade markmark ofof others?others?

–– IfIf aa similarsimilar oror identicalidentical namename toto aa registeredregistered TMTM isis

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–– IfIf aa similarsimilar oror identicalidentical namename toto aa registeredregistered TMTM isisregisteredregistered forfor aa domaindomain name,name, whatwhat actionaction cancan bebetakentaken byby tradetrade markmark owner?owner?

–– HowHow thethe internationalinternational arbitrationarbitration dealsdeals withwith issueissue ofofcybercyber squatting?squatting?

Cyber SquattingCyber Squatting

uu ItIt isis aa maliciousmalicious practicepractice ofof registeringregistering andand acquiringacquiring forfordomaindomain name(s)name(s) thosethose namesnames thatthat areare associatedassociated ororlinkedlinked withwith otherother people’speople’s interests,interests, suchsuch asas tradetrade marksmarksoror personalpersonal namesnames..

uu CyberCyber squattersquatter acquireacquire thosethose namesnames forfor varietyvariety ofof

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uu CyberCyber squattersquatter acquireacquire thosethose namesnames forfor varietyvariety ofofreasons,reasons, includingincluding::–– BlockingBlocking aa businessbusiness competitor/rivalcompetitor/rival fromfrom acquiringacquiring

certaincertain namesnames forfor theirtheir domaindomain namename..–– DisruptingDisrupting other’sother’s businessbusiness–– ConfusingConfusing publicpublic byby representingrepresenting aa websitewebsite thatthat maymay

looklook likelike originatingoriginating fromfrom otherother peoplepeople..

International ArbitrationInternational Arbitration

uu TheThe issuesissues ofof cybercyber squattingsquatting hashas beenbeen dealtdealt withwith bybyinternationalinternational arbitrationarbitration bodybody includingincluding thethe ArbitrationArbitrationandand MediationMediation CenterCenter ofof thethe WorldWorld IntellectualIntellectual PropertyPropertyOrganizationOrganization (WIPO)(WIPO)..

uu TheseThese arbitrationarbitration bodiesbodies areare applyingapplying thethe principlesprinciples

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uu TheseThese arbitrationarbitration bodiesbodies areare applyingapplying thethe principlesprinciplesunderunder thethe UniformUniform DomainDomain NamesNames DisputeDispute ResolutionResolutionPolicyPolicy (UDRP)(UDRP) thatthat isis adoptedadopted byby thethe internationalinternationaladministeringadministering bodybody forfor DomainDomain NamesNames System,System, ii..ee..ICANNICANN..

uu TheseThese arbitrationarbitration bodiesbodies hearhear casescases fromfrom allall overover thetheworldworld thatthat involveinvolve thethe registrationregistration ofof toptop domaindomain levellevelnamesnames (i(i..ee.. thatthat endsends withwith ..com,com, ..org,org, ..biz,biz, etc)etc)

Three FactorThree Factor--TestsTests(a)(a) Whether or not the domain name registered by the Whether or not the domain name registered by the

Respondent is Respondent is identical and confusingly similar identical and confusingly similar to a to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights; has rights;

(b)(b) Whether or not the Respondent has Whether or not the Respondent has legitimate interestslegitimate interestsin respect of the domain name; and in respect of the domain name; and

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in respect of the domain name; and in respect of the domain name; and

(c)(c) Whether or not the domain name has been registered Whether or not the domain name has been registered and used in and used in bad faithbad faith..

ComplainantComplainantàà the one who complained on domain the one who complained on domain names registrationnames registrationRespondentRespondentàà the one who registered the domain the one who registered the domain names in questionnames in question

Three FactorThree Factor--Tests (cont’d)Tests (cont’d)

uu IfIf thethe principlesprinciples areare toto bebe applied,applied, cybercyber squattingsquattingclaimsclaims willwill bebe successfulsuccessful andand thethe complainantcomplainant willwillhavehave thethe rightright toto getget thethe domaindomain namesnames fromfromrespondentrespondent ifif::

–– TheThe domaindomain namename inin questionquestion isis identicalidentical andand

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–– TheThe domaindomain namename inin questionquestion isis identicalidentical andandconfusinglyconfusingly similarsimilar toto aa registeredregistered trademarktrademarkbelongsbelongs toto complainantcomplainant;; andand

–– TheThe respondentrespondent doesdoes notnot havehave legitimatelegitimate interestinterestonon thethe saidsaid domaindomain namename;; oror

–– TheThe respondentrespondent registeredregistered thethe domaindomain namename ininbadbad faithfaith..

‘Legitimate interest’ and ‘bad faith’‘Legitimate interest’ and ‘bad faith’

uu LegitimateLegitimate interestinterest maymay includeinclude:: correlationcorrelationbetweenbetween namename andand naturenature ofof business,business, longlong useuseofof thethe name,name, nonnon--commercialcommercial uses,uses, etcetc..

BadBad faithfaith maymay includeinclude:: maliciousmalicious intentionintention toto

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uu BadBad faithfaith maymay includeinclude:: maliciousmalicious intentionintention totodisruptdisrupt otherother people’speople’s business,business, hijackinghijacking andandblockingblocking othersothers fromfrom acquiringacquiring certaincertain domaindomainname,name, intentionintention toto confuseconfuse public,public,misrepresentationmisrepresentation byby wayway ofof domaindomain namesnames..

Domain Name DisputesDomain Name Disputes— UDRP - Uniform Domain Name Dispute

Resolution Policy—Administrative process through ICANN-

approved service providers (currently four).National Arbitration Forum

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— National Arbitration Forum

— WIPO

— Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre

— The Czech Arbitration Court

—UDRP process is available for all gTLDs and some ccTLDs (57)

Domain Name DisputesDomain Name Disputes

—— UDRP UDRP -- What does a complainant have to What does a complainant have to prove?prove?——The conflicting domain name is identical or The conflicting domain name is identical or

confusingly similar to the trademark or service confusingly similar to the trademark or service mark owned by the complainant.mark owned by the complainant.

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mark owned by the complainant.mark owned by the complainant.

——The respondent does not have any rights or The respondent does not have any rights or legitimate interests in the domain name.legitimate interests in the domain name.

——The domain name was registered The domain name was registered andand is being is being used in bad faith.used in bad faith.

Domain Name DisputesDomain Name Disputes—— UDRP UDRP -- What remedies are available?What remedies are available?

—— Transfer of the domain name to the complainant.Transfer of the domain name to the complainant.

—— Cancellation of the domain name.Cancellation of the domain name.

—— No monetary damages available.No monetary damages available.

—— UDRP UDRP –– What are the costs?What are the costs?

—— Depends on the number of domain names in a Depends on the number of domain names in a

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—— Depends on the number of domain names in a Depends on the number of domain names in a complaint.complaint.

—— Depends on the number of panelists deciding the Depends on the number of panelists deciding the complaint.complaint.

—— General Budget: ~US $5,000 per General Budget: ~US $5,000 per complaint (one complaint (one domain name, one panelist)domain name, one panelist)

URDP URDP uu Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution PolicyUniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy is a is a

policy adopted by ICANN that provides a mechanism for policy adopted by ICANN that provides a mechanism for trademark owners to obtain domain names from cyber trademark owners to obtain domain names from cyber squatters.squatters.

uu AllAll domaindomain namename registrarsregistrars havehave thethe powerpower toto grantgrant““..com”,com”, ““..netnet”,”, andand ““..org”org” genericgeneric toptop--levellevel domainsdomains mustmust““..com”,com”, ““..netnet”,”, andand ““..org”org” genericgeneric toptop--levellevel domainsdomains mustmustfollowfollow thethe UDRPUDRP..

uu DomainDomain namename registrarregistrar willwill cancel,cancel, suspend,suspend, oror transfertransferaa domaindomain namename thatthat isis thethe subjectsubject ofof aa trademarktrademark--basedbaseddispute,dispute, itit mustmust havehave anan agreementagreement signedsigned byby thetheparties,parties, aa courtcourt orderorder..

UDRP ….UDRP ….

uu TheThe UDRPUDRP createdcreated aa streamlinedstreamlined "cyber"cyber arbitration"arbitration"procedureprocedure toto quicklyquickly resolveresolve domaindomain namenameownershipownership disputesdisputes thatthat involveinvolve trademarkstrademarks..

uu AllAll owners/registrantsowners/registrants ofof ““..com”,com”, ““..netnet”,”, andand ““..org”org”uu AllAll owners/registrantsowners/registrants ofof ““..com”,com”, ““..netnet”,”, andand ““..org”org”domaindomain namesnames areare subjectsubject toto thethe UDRPUDRP byby virtuevirtue ofofthethe registrationregistration agreementsagreements agreedagreed toto withwith theirtheirregistrarsregistrars atat thethe timetime ofof acquiringacquiring theirtheir domaindomainnamesnames

WipoWipo domain name cases domain name cases

TitleTitle

uA case study on domain name dispute Tata sons Ltd v.oktatabyebye.com

ObjectivesObjectives

uuTo study a case related to To study a case related to Domain name dispute.Domain name dispute.

Case Case ..Tata sons Ltd v.oktatabyebye.comTata sons Ltd v.oktatabyebye.com

Detail of case Detail of case uuBackground Background

uuWhen /why issue arise When /why issue arise

uuWhat are the effect What are the effect

uuDecision Decision

uuEffect of decision Effect of decision

BACK GROUNDBACK GROUND

uu Tata Sons Limited under the Indian Tata Sons Limited under the Indian Companies Act, 1913 having its registered Companies Act, 1913 having its registered office at Bombay House, 24, office at Bombay House, 24, HomiHomi ModyModyStreet, Mumbai Street, Mumbai –– 400 001, India. 400 001, India.

uu TATA Group of companiesTATA Group of companies--India’s oldest, India’s oldest, uu TATA Group of companiesTATA Group of companies--India’s oldest, India’s oldest, largest and bestlargest and best--known conglomerate, with a known conglomerate, with a turnover that is over USD 62 Billion. Total turnover that is over USD 62 Billion. Total turnover for 2007turnover for 2007--08 is stated to be 08 is stated to be Rs.251,543 Rs.251,543 crorescrores (USD 62.5 billion).(USD 62.5 billion).

Makemytrip.comMakemytrip.comuu MakeMyTrip.com MakeMyTrip.com -- GurgoanGurgoan based travel based travel

company that in a span of 8 years has garnered company that in a span of 8 years has garnered a wealth of experience and respect in the travel a wealth of experience and respect in the travel industry. industry.

uu The pioneers of online travel services in India; The pioneers of online travel services in India; leading travel website in the country, with over 2 leading travel website in the country, with over 2 million unique visitors each month choosing to million unique visitors each month choosing to use our travel services.use our travel services.

MAKE MY TRIP .COM MAKE MY TRIP .COM TO TO OK TATA OK TATA BYE BYE BYEBYE .COM.COM

three years afterthree years after MakeMyTrip.comMakeMyTrip.com launched an launched an online online travel communitytravel community and called itand called it OkTataByeBye.comOkTataByeBye.com

See the sites See the sites

uuwww.www.tatatataindicom.comindicom.comuuwww.www.tatatatamotors.commotors.comuuwww.tcs.comwww.tcs.com

www.www.tatastatasteel.co.inteel.co.inuuwww.www.tatastatasteel.co.inteel.co.inuuwww.www.tatatatacommunications.comcommunications.comuuwww.www.tatatata.in.inuu www.makemytrip.comwww.makemytrip.comuuwww.oktatabyebye.comwww.oktatabyebye.com

Issue arise Issue arise uu ‘‘TATA’TATA’ isis aa wellwell--knownknown andand registeredregistered trademarktrademark andand

serviceservice markmark overover whichwhich Tata,Tata, beingbeing thethe registeredregisteredproprietorproprietor hadhad statutorystatutory rightsrights asas wellwell asas commoncommon lawlawrightsrights byby virtuevirtue ofof aa longlong andand continuouscontinuous useuse..

uu scopescope forfor confusionconfusion inin thethe mindsminds ofof relevantrelevant groupgroup ofofconsumersconsumers .. TheThe useuse ofof thethe wordword ‘TATA’‘TATA’ inin thethe firstfirst partpartofof thethe domaindomain namename couldcould leadlead toto consumersconsumers assumingassumingofof thethe domaindomain namename couldcould leadlead toto consumersconsumers assumingassumingitit toto bebe aa sitesite maintainedmaintained byby TataTata

uu MakyMyTripMakyMyTrip diddid notnot establishestablish “any“any demonstrabledemonstrablepreparationpreparation toto useuse thethe disputeddisputed domaindomain namename ininconnectionconnection withwith aa bonabona fidefide offeringoffering ofof goodsgoods ororservices”services” whenwhen itit alreadyalready hadhad aa sitesite makemytripmakemytrip..comcom ininconnectionconnection withwith itsits businessbusiness..

Who has deal the issue Who has deal the issue

Anand and anand , Delhi• Tata sons ltd

Lal and sethi associate ,Delhi • Ok tata bye bye .com

Claimant says … Claimant says …

uu The The MakeMyTripMakeMyTrip had “ill intention” behind creation had “ill intention” behind creation ofofoktatabyebye.comoktatabyebye.com in order to infringe the intellectual in order to infringe the intellectual property rights of its registered trademark/service mark property rights of its registered trademark/service mark ‘Tata’. ‘Tata’.

uu confusingly similar to its ‘Tata’ brand and the travel portal confusingly similar to its ‘Tata’ brand and the travel portal runner has no rights or legitimate interests to use it. runner has no rights or legitimate interests to use it.

Respondent points..Respondent points..uu Make my trip Make my trip was an online travel portal rendering travel was an online travel portal rendering travel

consultancy services, while consultancy services, while oktatabyrbye.comoktatabyrbye.comcommunity portal for travelers to share their experiences community portal for travelers to share their experiences and give firstand give first--hand travel advice to other wanderlusts.hand travel advice to other wanderlusts.

uu the word ‘the word ‘tatatata’ had been used in a colloquial sense ’ had been used in a colloquial sense which is to bid adieu and this was clear from the way it which is to bid adieu and this was clear from the way it which is to bid adieu and this was clear from the way it which is to bid adieu and this was clear from the way it had been placed between the words ‘ok’ and ‘bye had been placed between the words ‘ok’ and ‘bye byebye’.’.

uu the word ‘the word ‘tatatata’ could be found on practically every truck ’ could be found on practically every truck on an Indian highway and this was used in a generic on an Indian highway and this was used in a generic sensesense..

ICANNICANN

uu InternetInternet CorporationCorporation forfor AssignedAssigned NamesNamesandand NumbersNumbers (ICANN)(ICANN) aa nonnon profitprofitcorporationcorporation isis nownow responsibleresponsible forfor coco--ordinatingordinating thethe assignmentassignment ofof protocol,protocol, andandmanagementmanagement ofof thethe DomainDomain NameName systemsystemmanagementmanagement ofof thethe DomainDomain NameName systemsystem

uu LocatedLocated -- California,California, nonnon--profitprofit corporationcorporationthatthat consistsconsists largelylargely ofof InternetInternet societysocietymembersmembers.. createdcreated onon SeptemberSeptember 1818,, 19981998 ininorderorder toto taketake overover aa numbernumber ofof InternetInternet--relatedrelated taskstasks previouslypreviously performedperformed ononbehalfbehalf ofof thethe USUS GovernmentGovernment..

uu FirstFirst comecome--firstfirst servedserved policypolicy andand putput ononholdhold ifif complaintcomplaint mademade

DECISIONDECISION

uu ((ii) Discontinue use of domain name of oktatabyebye.com) Discontinue use of domain name of oktatabyebye.com

uu (ii) Transfer the aforesaid domain name to the (ii) Transfer the aforesaid domain name to the Complainant in accordance with the applicable Complainant in accordance with the applicable procedureprocedureprocedureprocedure

uu (iii) Refrain from all manner of use of the aforesaid (iii) Refrain from all manner of use of the aforesaid domain name or any other mark, name, domain name, domain name or any other mark, name, domain name, etc that is confusingly similar to the trademark of the etc that is confusingly similar to the trademark of the Complainant.Complainant.

WIPO direction WIPO direction

•As per directions issued by WIPO on August 24, 2009 the transfer of the domain name okaytatabyebye.com would not take place if MakeMyTrip went in for legal proceedings against Tata Sons in the matter within a period of 10 days.against Tata Sons in the matter within a period of 10 days.

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