In this week’s Patent News – CGPDTM to organize WIPO-IPO PCT Roving Seminars; RGNIIPM to organize Public Training Programs in the field of IP; Bombay High Court directs hearing of urgent IP matters in-chamber; U.S government sues Gilead Sciences for patent infringement; Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Organization and WIPO host Africa Intellectual Property Rights Conference; Liberia IPO to host the annual Administrative and Ministerial Councils Meeting; EPO signs Validation Agreement with government of Georgia, and more.
INDIA PATENT NEWS
CGPDTM to organize WIPO-IPO PCT Roving Seminars
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Indian Patent Office (IPO) have collaborated once more in order to organize PCT Roving Seminars in India. The seminars are being organized in association with Industry Associations, ASSOCHAN and CII. As per the notification published on IP India, the seminars are being conducted as a symbol of WIPO’s continuing efforts to increase global awareness regarding IPR and innovation. The Roving Seminars are likely to be beneficial to anybody seeking to protect their inventions globally. During the seminar, WIPO and IPO officials will brief the participants on the functioning of the PCT System and will also provide guidance to create online accounts to access the ePCT portal. This time, the Seminars have been scheduled in four cities, namely, Ahmedabad, Vishakhapatnam, Indore and Kochi.
The official notification may be accessed here.
RGNIIPM to organize Public Training Programs in the field of IP
The Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Intellectual Property Rights Management (RGNIIPM) has scheduled a series of Public Training Programs to disseminate knowledge on the subject of Intellectual Property Rights. The notification states that the Institute will hold a two-week Advanced Public Training Program for Professional Skill Development, one-week Skill Development Public Training Program in addition to a 3 day, 2 day and 1 day Public Training Program. The notification further states that 50% concession on the fees will be provided for students, women participants, startups and any organization with five or more participants.
The official notification may be accessed here.
Bombay High Court directs hearing of urgent IP matters “in chamber”
On November 6th 2019, the Bombay High Court issued a notice directing that all IP related matters seeking ex-parte orders and demanding urgent attention be heard “in chamber.” Mumbai Mirror has reported that the motive behind this move is to ensure that essential information relating to the case does not reach the wrong hands. In-chamber hearing is likely to prevent leak of key information and ensure maintenance of secrecy. This is also expected to be beneficial to the plaintiff at the time of conducting a raid on the premises of the defendant. Cases that are to be heard in-chamber will not be mentioned in open court nor will the cases be displayed on the High Court website. While some IP advocates have welcomed this move, others are of the opinion that it may be misused by many.
BANANAIP NEWS UPDATES
BananaIP to host a special session on obtaining a Patent Grant in one year in India
On 23rd November 2019, BananaIP will be hosting a session to discuss strategies in order to obtain speedy patent grants. The discussion will be led by Dr. Kalyan Kankanala, a well-known patent attorney, and Mr. Gaurav Mishra, an experienced patent prosecutor. The discussion will be held at BananaIP’s office between 2 pm and 4 pm on 23rd November, 2019.
You may click here to register for the session.
Intellepedia- IP News Centre to conduct a seminar on “Building an Intellectual Property Framework for Organisations
On 6th December 2019, BananaIP’s Intellepedia will conduct a seminar on “Building an Intellectual Property Framework for Organisations.” The seminar will be presented by Dr. Kalyan Kankanala, Sr. Partner, BananaIP Counsels and Mr. Ram Sitaraman, Principal Engineer, Head of IPR at Mahindra & Mahindra.
You may click here to register for the session.
PATENT DISPUTES / INFRINGEMENTS / SETTLEMENTS/ LICENSING
U.S government sues Gilead Sciences for patent infringement
The United States government instituted a suit against pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences for patent infringement. The concerned patent is related to a Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment that prevents HIV. The suit was filed in the Federal District Court on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Despite various efforts made by HHS to offer a license to Gilead, the company had refused. According to HHS, Gilead has “willfully and deliberately” committed the act of infringement. Gilead has allegedly derived billions of dollars by unjustly utilizing the research performed by the government and funded by the tax payers of the country. The drugs at issue are being sold in the market in the name of Truvada and Descovy. Gilead initially requested for an FDA approval to use these products for ‘post-infection HIV treatment.’ However, Gilead subsequently made efforts to obtain approvals for the drugs to be used in PrEP regimens after the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention performed rigorous studies and achieved results through human trials. The U.S government currently holds four patents that protect this invention.
INTERNATIONAL PATENT NEWS
Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Organization and WIPO hosted the Africa Intellectual Property Rights Conference
The Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Organization (ZIPO) recently hosted the Africa Intellectual Property Rights Conference, for the first time. The conference was organized in collaboration with WIPO and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) between the 6th and 8th of November 2019. The objective of the three-day conference was to create a healthy eco system that nurtures the development of IP. In addition to promoting IP Rights and encouraging innovation, the Zimbabwean IPO is also looking at streamlining IP laws in the country. Simplifying laws will ensure that the process of seeking IP protection will be an easy process for businesses as well as individuals. Mrs. Virginia Mabhiza, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs said that it is essential to inculcate a “pro-intellectual property attitude” in the country.
Liberia IPO to host the annual Administrative and Ministerial Councils Meeting
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has selected Liberia to host the annual Administrative and Ministerial Councils Meeting this year. The meeting will be the 24th Administrative and 17th Ministerial Councils meeting. The Liberia Intellectual Property Office is expected to attract over hundred delegates from ARIPO member states. In addition to members from the Regional states, delegates from the Japan Patent Office, USPTO, the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of the People’s Republic of China and WIPO are expected to be present at the meeting.
ARIPO, is an organization consisting of 19 participating states that have come together to share key resources for the development and advancement of IP Rights. The participating states include: Botswana, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
EPO signs Validation Agreement with government of Georgia
The European Patent Office (EPO) and the government of Georgia signed a Validation Agreement that allows patent applications filed in EPO to have the same legal effect in Georgia. The Agreement was executed by EPO President António Campinos and Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Genadi Arveladze, in Munich. The Agreement is the fifth validation agreement signed by the EPO. The President of EPO said that the agreement is likely to simplify access to patent protection in Georgia. It is also expected to improve national economic development and create new business opportunities for European companies.
The complete list of Validation States may be accessed here.
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