SpicyIP is extremely happy to learn that CH Unnikrishnan of the Mint, by far the most sophisticated “patent” reporter in India, recently won the “best reporter of the month” award. Although an internal award conferred by Mint, what is striking is that the award was specifically conferred for his articles on “patents”. Notably, the ones where he shook up the Indian patent office with his coverage on Roche’s Valcyte patent, where the patent office issued the patent without hearing the other side. We’d blogged on this here.
Such an award signals that “patent” issues have garnered mainstream media attention in India and is taken much more “seriously” by the public. With more media coverage and with folks like Unni upping the ante for accurate and nuanced IP reporting in India, we are in for a boom time. Needless to state, it makes for more transparency in intellectual property policy and government functionaries that “flew under the radar” for so long will come under the scanner. The beginnings of a wonderful phase of public accountability in IP.
Congratulations Unni. Keep up the excellent work!!
