DNLU Jabalpur’s Dr. Gargi Chakrabarti Wins Faculty of the Year at LEAP 2025: Celebrating Excellence in Digital Law and Legal Pedagogy

In an exceptional milestone for Indian legal academia, Dr. Gargi Chakrabarti, Associate Professor of Law at Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur, has been conferred the prestigious Faculty of the Year award at LEAP 2025 (Leadership, Excellence, and Academic Progress) hosted by the London School of Digital Business (LSDB).

This global accolade underscores the vital role that forward-thinking Indian legal scholars play in shaping the contours of intellectual property (IP), technology governance, and digital enterprise regulation. At a time when Indian enterprises are navigating the intricate intersection of artificial intelligence, cross-border digital trade, and stringent compliance frameworks, this recognition shines a spotlight on the pedagogical excellence originating from India's national law universities.

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The Significance of the LEAP 2025 Honor

The London School of Digital Business organizes the LEAP initiative to acknowledge academic leaders and practitioners who bridge the gap between traditional learning and the rapidly evolving demands of the global digital economy.

Dr. Chakrabarti has long been recognized within Indian and international legal circles for her research and teaching in:

• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Balancing innovation incentives with public health and fair access.
• Technology Transfer and Commercialization: Guiding how research institutions and emerging ventures translate intellectual assets into market-ready, legally resilient products.
• Digital Business and Regulatory Policy: Decoding how cross-jurisdictional digital enterprises can remain compliant across dynamic legal ecosystems.

Her recognition as Faculty of the Year at LEAP 2025 is not merely an individual triumph; it validates the growing emphasis within Indian legal institutions on digital commerce, intellectual asset preservation, and international economic law.

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Navigating the Convergence of Digital Business, IP, and Indian Corporate Law

As academic leaders like Dr. Chakrabarti advance research into digital business frameworks, commercial entities in India—ranging from high-growth tech startups in Mumbai and Thane to established enterprises along the Western corridor—face immediate, practical legal challenges.

Operating a modern enterprise is no longer just about incorporation and tax filings. The modern digital enterprise sits at the confluence of several evolving statutory frameworks in India:

1. Intellectual Property Protection in the Digital Realm

Digital business models thrive on intangible assets: proprietary source code, specialized algorithms, brand trademarks, and confidential customer datasets.

• Trade Secrets and Confidentiality: Unlike patent or copyright regimes governed by statutory enactments (such as the Patents Act, 1970, and the Copyright Act, 1957), trade secret protection in India relies heavily on common law, breach of confidence doctrines, and robust non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
• Licensing and Technology Transfer: Modern corporate agreements require meticulous drafting of IP transfer clauses, software licensing parameters, and white-label arrangements to avoid disputes over derivative works.

2. The Data Governance Mandate: DPDP Act, 2023

Any enterprise operating through a digital portal, SaaS dashboard, or consumer application must now align its corporate practices with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act). Key requirements include:

• Serving unambiguous, easily accessible notice to data principals before collecting personal information.
• Implementing strict technical safeguards against data breaches.
• Navigating substantial financial penalties that can scale up to ₹250 crore for significant contraventions.

3. Cyber Offenses and Corporate Recourse Under the IT Act & BNS 2023

Digital businesses are frequently exposed to digital extortion, corporate data theft, and unauthorized network intrusions. The Indian legal framework addresses these through overlapping civil and criminal remedies:

• Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act): Section 43 provides civil compensation for unauthorized data extraction or damage to computer systems, while Section 66 and 66C/66D penalize identity theft and hacking.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS): Effective July 1, 2024, the BNS replaces the Indian Penal Code. Matters involving online corporate fraud, impersonation, and fraudulent misappropriation are now prosecuted under corresponding provisions such as Section 318 (cheating) and Section 316 (criminal breach of trust), aligning digital fraudulent practices with modern statutory standards.

4. Evidentiary Standards for Electronic Records Under BSA 2023

For corporate disputes, commercial arbitrations, or cybercrime prosecutions, proving digital evidence has undergone a major procedural overhaul under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA):

• Sections 61 to 63 of the BSA govern the admissibility of electronic records, replacing the erstwhile framework of Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act.
• Digital businesses must maintain immutable server logs, cryptographic hashes, and compliant certificate mechanisms to ensure that digital contracts, audit trails, and electronic communications remain admissible during formal legal proceedings.

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Why Academic-Industry Synergy Matters for Local Businesses

For businesses across Mumbai, Thane, and the emerging commercial hubs of Mira Road and the wider MMR, academic research in digital business law is directly relevant to daily operations.

Operational Area	Legal Implication	Recommended Corporate Strategy
Software & AI Implementation	Copyright over AI-generated works, patentability of software-related inventions	Formulate internal IP assignment policies for all software engineers and vendors.
Customer Data Onboarding	Strict consent and purpose limitation under the DPDP Act, 2023	Redraft digital terms of service and explicit consent architectures.
Vendor & Partner Contracting	Risk of trade secret leaks or software code misappropriation	Incorporate stringent indemnity, audit rights, and IP carve-outs in service contracts.
Dispute Resolution	Evidentiary challenges in virtual or paperless transactions	Align server log retention and electronic signatures with Sections 61–63 of BSA 2023.

When legal institutions such as DNLU Jabalpur cultivate leaders in digital business law, it feeds directly into the quality of legal talent, corporate governance standards, and regulatory drafting across the country.

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Practical Steps for Enterprises Scaling Their Digital Footprint

To safeguard intellectual capital and maintain regulatory compliance in 2025, businesses should undertake the following measures:

1. Conduct an Annual IP & Digital Asset Audit: Categorize core software assets, domain names, proprietary workflows, and trademarks to verify clear corporate ownership.
2. Review Vendor Master Services Agreements (MSAs): Ensure all freelance developers, IT service providers, and marketing agencies execute clear work-for-hire and IP assignment clauses.
3. Formulate an Incident Response & Compliance Protocol: Establish an internal standard operating procedure (SOP) that details how data breaches or unauthorized data compromises are documented and reported within statutory timelines.
4. Audit Electronic Contract Execution: Verify that e-signatures and digital assent mechanisms adhere to the Information Technology Act, 2000, ensuring clean enforceability under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does the LEAP Faculty of the Year award by LSDB recognize?

The LEAP (Leadership, Excellence, and Academic Progress) award presented by the London School of Digital Business recognizes global educators who demonstrate remarkable leadership, pedagogy, and research in disciplines shaping modern digital commerce, enterprise leadership, and technology-focused legal studies.

2. How do research contributions in IP law benefit emerging startups in India?

Startups often struggle with issues such as patenting software-related inventions, preserving trade secrets, and preventing IP dilution during funding rounds. Academic research clarifies the application of complex statutory provisions, guiding the judiciary and legal practitioners toward business-friendly, innovation-protective outcomes.

3. How has the law on digital evidence changed for corporate litigation in 2024–2025?

With the enactment of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA), the framework for presenting electronic records in commercial disputes has transitioned from Section 65B of the old Evidence Act to Sections 61 through 63 of the BSA. Businesses must ensure that digital records, system logs, and communication archives are backed by proper certificates to remain admissible in court.

4. What immediate steps should a company take if an employee misappropriates proprietary software code?

A business should immediately preserve electronic access logs, issue a formal cease-and-desist letter, evaluate immediate injunctive relief before the competent Commercial Court, and, if warranted, lodge a complaint under Section 43/66 of the IT Act and Section 316 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 for criminal breach of trust.

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Consult APS Law for Corporate & Digital Governance

At APS Law, we advise emerging startups, established businesses, and entrepreneurs across Mumbai, Thane, and Mira Road on corporate structuring, IP protection, technology contracts, and regulatory compliance under India's evolving legal framework.

Whether you need assistance conducting an intellectual property audit, drafting data-compliant enterprise contracts, or resolving commercial disputes, contact APS Law today to schedule a focused consultation.