• NATIONAL

Ranbaxy refutes DoJ's adulteration charges

Indian drugmaker Ranbaxy Laboratories has refuted the charges levelled against it by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) of not sharing audit information sought by the US authorities to investigate the allegations of document forgery and sale of substandard drugs in the US market. In an eight-page response filed with the District Court of Maryland (US), Ranbaxy stated that it has already informed the US government of the company's willingness to share the remaining records sought by them.

Percept obtains court stay against the making UTV film

In one of the first Bollywood cases pertaining to copyright infringement, Percept Picture Company has obtained a court stay against the making of "Shoebite", a UTV production. Percept had moved the Delhi High Court against UTV for allegedly encroaching upon its copyright in the script "Johny Walker". Percept claimed Shoebite was a direct copy of "Johny Walker". As per the order, UTV has been restrained from infringing Percept's copyright in the script and dialogue of Johny Walker in any manner, including the production of Shoebite, which is allegedly based on the script.

Court pulls up Citicorp Finance for employing goons

Citicorp Finance was slammed by a Delhi court for employing goons for repossessing a farmer's financed JCB construction vehicle even when it had appointed a receiver to resolve the dispute linked to default in repayment of loan by him. The court issued bailable warrant against Branch Manager of the institution to the sum of Rs 20,000.

Court orders to book 12 policemen in Bamania encounter case

An Indore court has ordered to book 12 policemen on the charges of murder in the Bamania encounter case took place in 2004. The orders were issued by Judicial Magistrate First Class while hearing the petition of Bamania's wife Reshambai, who alleged that police had killed her husband and later dubbed the incident as an encounter. The court has also issued arrest warrant against all the 12 policemen including a Sub Inspector and an Assistant Sub Inspector.

Banks can't charge credit cardholders in excess of 30%: National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ruled that charging of interest at rates in excess of 30 per cent per annum is an unfair trade practice. Coming down heavily on the banks who charge 'exorbitant' interest rates on one ground or the other, like the credit card holders' failure to make full payment on the due date or paying the minimum amount due, the consumer court has ruled that penal interest can be charged only once for one period of default and shall not be capitalized and that charging of interest with monthly rests is also an unfair trade practice. Currently banks are charging the credit card holders interest ranging from 36 to 49 per cent pa for their default in payments.

RBI releases First Quarter Review of the Annual Statement on Monetary Policy for the Year 2008-09

RBI releases First Quarter Review of Annual Statement on Monetary Policy for 2008-09.The main sections covered in the review of annual statement include assessment of macroeconomic and monetary developments, stance of monetary policy and monetary measures. Keeping the Bank Rate and Reserved Repo Rate unchanged; the Repo Rate and Cash Reserve Ratio has been increased by basic points of 50 & 25 respectively from 30 Aug, 2008. The GDP is revised around 8.0 % and also policies are made to bring down the inflation to a tolerable level of below 5.0 % now and 3.0 % over the medium-term.

• INTERNATIONAL

Judge orders Google to give YouTube user data to Viacom

A US judge has ordered Google to expose to Viacom the video-viewing habits of everyone who has ever used YouTube in a decision condemned by the Internet giant and privacy advocates. Viacom charges Google, which bought YouTube in 2006, acts as a willing accomplice to Internet users who put clips of Viacom's copyrighted television programs on the popular video-sharing website.

German court rules Qualcomm patent invalid

Nokia said the German Federal Patent Court ruled that a Qualcomm GSM patent asserted in a case against Nokia is invalid. In its numerous legal actions against Nokia all Qualcomm patents have been found either invalid or not infringed by Nokia.

Facebook asks US court to unplug German website StudiVZ

Facebook has requested a US court to shut down German website StudiVZ on the ground that it is an illegal "knockoff" of the online social networking superstar. Facebook wants a federal court in the heart of Silicon Valley to order StudiVZ to stop mimicking the Northern California firm's website and hand over any money it has made.

Sudan plans to create domestic courts for war crimes trials

Sudan plans to create its own internationally-monitored courts to try war crimes suspects from the country's Darfur region. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands currently handles such proceedings, but if Sudanese domestic courts are created with appropriate human rights and accountability safeguards, the ICC is required to hand over jurisdiction under Article 16 of the Rome Statute.

Italy upper house passes law granting immunity to top officials

The Italian Senate announced that it has passed a legislation granting the Prime Minister and other high-ranking officials immunity from prosecution while in office.

China plans to challenge World Trade Organization findings on tariff violations

The Chinese Commerce Ministry said that Chinese officials disagreed with and could challenge a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel report which states that the country illegally taxes and disfavors imported auto parts. The US, EU, and Canada had submitted complaints in March, alleging that China was taxing auto parts imported from those countries at the same rate that it taxed foreign-made finished cars in violation of promises made upon accession to the WTO and in violation of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.