Last week, Google received a setback from the Delhi High Court when the latter ruled in favour of Hindware in the trademark dispute case. The court verdict was seen as having larger implications for the online advertising industry, where brands have been using keywords of rival companies to rank better in search results.

The company has now reacted to the development and said its approach is in sync with Indian trademark legislation.

A Google spokesperson was quoted as saying in media reports that the company bars competitor advertisers from using trademarked words in ad-text of an ad, and this is a policy that is applied worldwide, including India.

“We duly respect and operate in accordance with all local laws, and in instances where the orders are overbroad or inconsistent with our policies, we work to explain our position as per the legal process in the country,” the Google spokesperson reportedly said.

“Specifically on our Ads policy on trademark keywords, we have a clear and stated policy that does not allow competitor advertisers to use trademarked terms in the ad-text of an ad. This policy is consistently applied globally and is in accordance with the Indian trademark law,” the spokesperson added.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had held Google responsible for allowing the use of the trademark ‘HINDWARE’ as a keyword in ads by rival brands. The court also imposed a cost of Rs 30 lakh on Google, to be awarded to Hindware, a popular sanitary brand.

Hindware had alleged in 2013 and 2014 that competing sanitary brands had run their online advertising campaigns on Google Ads using the keyword ‘HINDWARE’ and related combinations without any authorisation. This practice allowed sponsored links of competing brands to appear in search results when any user searched for the brand Hindware.

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May 14, 2026; Mumbai, India: Setting the stage for one of the most promising editions of South Asia’s premier advertising, media and marketing festival, Goafest 2026 today presents a stellar line-up of speakers, industry visionaries and entertainment personalities who will collectively champion discussions and conversations around the 19^th edition’s theme ‘Reset for Growth’.

The three-day festival will reflect the theme through a series of sessions that will tackle key industry shifts like the impact and influence of artificial intelligence, dilemmas around data ownership, evolving media consumption, the emergence of new media platforms, the greater need for measurement, and the role of creativity in powering business growth.  With 60 speakers across 20 sessions, Goafest 2026 ensures a thorough representation of key voices from across the advertising, media, marketing, technology, and business ecosystem.

Some of the most significant leaders expected to take the Goafest 2026 stage are Prasar Bharati’s Chairperson, Padma Shri Prasoon Joshi (Omnicom Advertising India),  NITI Aayog’s Former Vice Chairman, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Santosh Desai (Think9 Consumer Technologies), Advertising veteran Eugene Cheong (Euge Publishing), and Bollywood legend Rakesh Bedi.

Besides advertising and media industry leaders, this year Goafest will have a wider representation from the client ecosystem and brand custodians including Nikhil Sharma (Perfetti Van Melle, India), Aman Gupta (boAt), Rohit Kapoor (Swiggy), Chandan Mendiratta (Zepto), Veetika Deoras (IHCL), Tuhina Pandey (IBM), Tarun Bhagat (PepsiCo) Riya Joseph (Britannia Industries), Harsh Deep Chhabra (Godrej Consumer Products), Darshana Shah (Aditya Birla Capital), Prasun Kumar (MagicBricks), Punit Dharamsi (Association of Mutual Funds in India) Rajiv Dubey  (Dabur India), Shubhranshu Singh (Marketing Leader & Ex CMO), Arpan Biswas (Ajio), Ajay Kakar (Adani) and Jahid Ahmed (HDFC Bank)  among many more.

Leading the technology-led conversations are Satya Raghavan (Google India), Haran Ramachandran (Spotify), Neha Markanda (ShareChat). Ensuring entertainment is not amiss, Prince of Bhangra, Sukhbir Singh and Singer Neeti Mohan will also take the prestigious Goafest stage.

Bringing diverse themes into focus, Goafest will also witness sports personalities like the Indian Women’s Cricket Team, Harmanpreet Kaur, Entrepreneur and Sports Leader, Preeti Jhangiani; Parvinn Dabass (Pro Panja League), Former Indian National Football Team captain and goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan, Indian Kabaddi Player Rahul Chaudhari, Sameer Pathak, (Pickleball World Rankings) and Actor, Anchor, Author & Fitness Enthusiast, Mandira Bedi.

Mohit Joshi, Co-Chair of the Goafest 2026 Organising Committee and CEO, Havas Media Network India said, “We are witnessing a shift in consumer behaviour, new technology adoption and a lot more in India and world over. As the industry evolves, growth can only come from embracing fresh perspectives, cross-industry collaboration, and conversations that may seem tough in boardrooms. The breadth of perspectives through our speakers across all stages will surely mirror our industry’s dynamics while looking for opportunities that unlock growth.”

“The agenda this year reflects the urgent realities of our industry. ‘Reset for Growth’ isn’t just a theme; it is a call to action – one that has sparked stronger client participation than ever before. Over the three days, we will hear from voices across the entire ecosystem – from AI and data to storytelling and brand-building. GoaFest 2026 will not just be a platform for celebration, but also for meaningful dialogue, collaboration and future-shaping ideas.” added Rohit Ohri, Founder, Ohriginal & Member, GoaFest Advisory Committee

Scheduled to take place on May 20, 21 and 22, 2026 at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, Goafest 2026 festival will centre conversations around reinvention, with a strong focus on how brands, agencies and platforms must reimagine, refine, and rebuild in an increasingly complex technology-driven ecosystem.

View the complete agenda on https://www.goafest.com/agenda

Register for via https://goafestreg.tecogis.com/MasterClassApp/masterclass

For more details on delegate passes, sponsor line-up and complete speaker list, visit www.goafest.com

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India’s workforce is increasingly prioritizing purpose-driven employment choices, with work-life balance, equity, and attractive salary & benefits emerging as the top Employee Value Proposition (EVP) drivers. 

●        GenZ is driving job-switching trends, with 38% having switched jobs in the last six months.

●        The IT, ITeS, & GCC sector emerges as the most desirable industry to work in India.

●        AI usage soars, with 3 in 5 employees using it regularly at work; optimism rises despite job displacement concerns.

●        9 in 10 employees want reskilling support; it has emerged as a critical priority not only for job seekers but also for those looking to continue in their current jobs. 

Bengaluru, India, 22nd July 2025: Tata Group has emerged as India’s most attractive employer brand, reveals the findings of Randstad Employer Brand Research (REBR) 2025 – the most comprehensive, independent, and in-depth employer brand research in the world conducted annually.

Tata Group scored very high on financial health, career progression opportunities, and reputation – the top 3 Employee Value Proposition (EVP) drivers for the organization as per the survey that helped the brand earn the winning spot. Google India climbed the rankings this year to emerge as the runner-up, followed by Infosys, which occupied the third spot. Another key highlight from the findings of this year’s report is the fact that State Bank of India has entered the list of top 10 employer brands, as the only Indian multinational public sector bank.

Now in its 15th edition in India, and 25th edition globally, the REBR report provides a detailed lens into the evolving priorities of the talent community. Based on insights from over 170,000 respondents across 34 markets, including 3,500+ in India, the study reveals that today’s talent expects far more than just a paycheque. They are looking for inclusive, future-focused workplaces that support both personal and professional growth.

Notably, talent in India rate their current organizations highly on factors like reputation, financial health, and equity. However, when asked about their perception of an ideal employer, work-life balance and attractive salary & benefits have emerged as potential gaps that Indian employers still need to address.

Top 10 most attractive employer brands in India for 2025:

This year, the top 10 most attractive employer brands represent diverse industries, reinforcing that talent opportunities today span across sectors. This underscores the strong competition among employers, who are not just contending with peers within their own sector, but also vying with companies across industries to attract top talent.

1.       Tata Group

2.       Google India

3.       Infosys

4.       Samsung India

5.       JPMorganChase

6.       IBM

7.       Wipro

8.       Reliance Industries

9.       Dell Technologies Ltd

10.    State Bank of India

Presenting the REBR 2025 insights, Viswanath PS, MD & CEO, Randstad India, a talent company, said, ”The Randstad Employer Brand Research continues to be an essential guide for organizations navigating a rapidly evolving talent landscape. The 2025 findings reflect a clear shift- today’s workforce is no longer satisfied with conventional jobs; they’re seeking equity, purpose, meaningful growth, and work-life harmony.

This year’s data also reveals a steady rise in job-switching intent, especially among younger talent. It’s a wake-up call for employers to move beyond transactional perks and build organizational cultures rooted in trust, transparency, and shared purpose. With work-life balance once again the top EVP driver, and reskilling gaining priority across all talent age groups, it’s time for organizations to reimagine and realign their EVP strategies to stay relevant.

As we lean further into a skills-based economy, the competition for top talent will only grow fiercer. The organizations that prioritize inclusion, foster continuous learning, and align with what truly matters to talent will stand out. I believe the REBR 2025 report will serve as a strategic compass for every employer striving to become a true talent magnet.”

Key findings from the REBR 2025 report:

Job-switching intent continues its upward trend. 47% of Indian employees planned to switch jobs in the first half of 2025, with both Gen Z (51%) and Millennials (50%) displaying a strong intention to switch employers.

Engagement levels are strong, with 86% of Indian workers reporting high motivation, while only 5% reporting low engagement. However, 67% of disengaged employees still plan to switch jobs, underscoring the link between engagement and retention.

Gen Z & millennials prioritize equity and inclusion more than Gen X, who focus on work-life balance. Gen Z values training and development more than leadership strength of the organization. Millennials are the most satisfied generation, rating their employers higher on salary, equity, and work-life balance.

AI usage is rising rapidly, with 61% of Indian employees now using it regularly. Millennials are the most active users, with a 13% increase over the previous year. The expectation of AI’s impact remains high, with 38% of employees feeling that AI is impacting their work significantly.

Reskilling remains a major priority, especially for highly educated professionals. 9 in 10 workers place high value on employers that offer upskilling opportunities.

Nearly 49% of India’s workforce identifies as belonging to a minority group. Notably, younger generations report higher rates of minority identification – 55% of Gen Z and 50% of Millennials. Encouragingly, minority employees are more positive about fairness in reskilling opportunities, especially from senior leadership. However, many are significantly more likely to report facing obstacles in career progression opportunities.

Work-life balance continues to emerge as the universal top priority for talent across industries. However, differences in role expectations remain: talent involved in sectors like manufacturing, automobile, light industrial, supply chain & logistics, heavy industry, energy & infrastructure, and skilled trades, emphasize job security. However, talent involved in sectors like pharma, healthcare & lifesciences, finance/ITeS, global capability centres, business consulting, engineering, sales, trade & marketing, BFSI, wholesale, retail, design, and R&D, places greater importance on strong management and career growth.

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