Informal Innovators and Fostering More Access to the Patent System

/ By / Innovation, Patent

Issues of “access” to medicines have been part of mainstream IP debates for many years now. Unfortunately, another glaring issue of “access” has not merited sufficient attention: namely that of access to the patent system itself. Quite surprising, given that this bottleneck ends up engendering more inequity, as it prevents poor “informal” innovators from partaking in the benefits offered by the patent system. Given that patents are a major “reputational” currency for new businesses these days, it is critical that […]

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Copying, Stealing and Medieval Writings

/ By / Copyright

It is undisputed that the Internet has radically changed the idea of copy-protection, given the relative ease with which one can make prefect digital copies of a copyrightable piece of work. But who would have thought that the Middle Ages suffered from the same problem – theft of their intellectual property. In a wonderful blog post, Got Medieval highlights how safeguarding intellectual property was a concern even in medieval times and provides illustrations of their efforts to protect their work.

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Ph.D Scholarship at IPR Centre, CUSAT

/ By / Uncategorized

Spicy IP is pleased to announce the establishment of the Inter University Centre for IPR Studies (IUCIPRS) a centre of excellence in Intellectual Property Rights at the Cochin University of Science and Technology. The main objective of IUCIPRS is to evolve into a research hub and resource center for IPR and related subjects. It also seeks to facilitate interaction between researchers from different universities and research institutions in India and abroad. The different areas of IPR that have been identified

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Breaking news: IPO releases revised manual of patent practice & procedure

/ By / Uncategorized

The Indian Patent Office (IPO) recently released a draft Manual of Patent Practice and Procedure (MPPP).  The draft manual can be seen here.  The MPPP is a codification of the general rules as applicable to the IPO.  The Manual is divided into 21 chapters and 3 schedules which represent areas subject to regulation by the IPO. The Manual provides to the Applicants and the Examiner alike, an easy read of the procedure at the patent office.  As compared to the

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Patenting Lal dant manjan

/ By / Uncategorized

The Association of Manufacturers of Ayurvedic Medicines (Amam), which represents 200 companies including Dabur, Himalaya, Hamdard and Baidyanath, has accused the American personal care giant, Colgate, for patenting red dental herbifice or Lal dant manjan, as it is familiar to us. Economic Times reports that the association sought governmental intervention for revoking the US patent and initiating necessary measures wherever Colgate has applied or been granted patent. The issue acquires significance in the light of growing concerns pertaining to biopiracy

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Brin Panna Goes to Court- II

/ By / Patent

For those who came in late, here’s the story thus far. Before we continue with the story, I would strongly recommend reading Prashant’s brilliant post on the fundamentals of Indian patent litigation. The Story… ….And so Brin Panna, after having earned his patent on “Spin-ster” technology (which still cannot be presumed valid under Indian law) now finds himself knocking the doors of the High Court of Bhagyanagar in the year 2012, to seek remedy against infringement of his patent by

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A round up of international events

/ By / Biological Diversity

Access and Benefit Sharing Protocol adopted at Nagoya.  Readers may remember our post recently on the COP 10 of the Convention of Bio-Diversity that was held at Nagoya, Japan. 18 years of negotiation on the treaty finally concluded with the adoption of the Access and Benefit Sharing Protocol, (Nagoya Protocol) on the 30th of October, 2010. The protocol, as the name suggests, has the aim of preventing misappropriation of genetic resources of countries, as well as providing equitable benefit sharing

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Delhi High Court orders the release of seized ‘Ferrero Rocher’ lookalikes

/ By / Trademark

Justice Ravinder Bhat of the Delhi High Court in an order dated 29th October, 2010 (click here for the order) ordered the partial release & de-sealing of a consignment of confectionary which had earlier been seized by a Court appointed Commissioner on the grounds that they, prima facie, infringed the trademark rights of the Plaintiff company – the famous Ferrero, manufacturers of ‘Ferrero Rocher’ and ‘Nutella’ – and also on the grounds of ‘public interest’ i.e. there was a reasonable

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Updates : Lawaaris-Housefull Controversy- Cal HC says Saregama has the right to grant license!

/ By / Copyright

Earlier this year, I had covered the interim Order passed by the Cal HC in the Lawaaris-Housefull controversy. Readers may remember that CJ Mohit Shah had opined that since the ramification of interpreting complex questions of law will be on the entire film industry, a detailed hearing can take place only after the vacations and had listed the matter on June 21, 2010. As per the information received from the insiders, the CJ had later released the matter from his

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SpicyIP Tidbit: Tamil Writer Claims ‘Enthiran’ as Stolen Story of His Tale

/ By / Copyright

Tamil writer Aroor Tamilnadan, whose pen name is Amudha Tamilnadan claims copyright Just weeks after superstar Rajinikanths latest blockbuster ‘Enthiran (Robot)’ hit screens worldwide. The writer lodged a complaint with the Chennai Police Commissioner that ‘Enthiran’ is based on the short story written by him under the title ‘Jughiba’, published in a Tamil magazine ‘Iniya Udhayam’ in 1996, and again in ‘Dhik Dhik Deepika’ magazine in 2007. According to him, Director and producer of “Enthiran” stole the uncooked story from

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