India yet to notify a list of ‘International Non-Proprietary Names’

In a reply to a recent RTI application, the Trade Marks Registry has informed us that it is yet to notify a list of ‘International Non-Proprietary Names’ (INNs) under S. 13 of Trade Marks Act, 1999. 

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Section 13 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 prohibits the registration of names of chemical elements or INNs which have been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and notified by the Registrar of Trade Marks. 

INNs are particularly relevant in the field of pharmaceutical trademarks. In most instances INNs refer to the generic name of a pharmaceutical drug. However INNs can also refer to the common ‘functional group’ or ‘active ingredient’ of a particular class of pharmaceutical drugs. The website of the WHO describes the relevance of INNs as follows: 

“The INN system as it exists today was initiated in 1950 by a World Health Assembly resolution WHA3.11 and began operating in 1953, when the first list of International Nonproprietary Names for pharmaceutical substances was published. The cumulative list of INN now stands at some 7000 names designated since that time, and this number is growing every year by some 120-150 new INN. 

Since its inception, the aim of the INN system has been to provide health professionals with a unique and universally available designated name to identify each pharmaceutical substance. The existence of an international nomenclature for pharmaceutical substances, in the form of INN, is important for the clear identification, safe prescription and dispensing of medicines to patients, and for communication and exchange of information among health professionals and scientists worldwide. 

As unique names, INN have to be distinctive in sound and spelling, and should not be liable to confusion with other names in common use. To make INN universally available they are formally placed by WHO in the public domain, hence their designation as "nonproprietary". They can be used without any restriction whatsoever to identify pharmaceutical substances. 

Another important feature of the INN system is that the names of pharmacologically-related substances demonstrate their relationship by using a common "stem". By the use of common stems the medical practitioner, the pharmacist, or anyone dealing with pharmaceutical products can recognize that the substance belongs to a group of substances having similar pharmacological activity.” 

Notifying a list of INNs is particularly relevant in India given the sheer volume of litigation in the segment of pharmaceutical trademarks. According to the last annual report of the IPO, pharmaceutical trademarks account for 15% of all trademark registrations, making this class of trademarks the single largest category of trademarks. 

Hopefully, the notification of a list of INNs should help in improving the quality of pharmaceutical trademarks and hopefully lead to a reduction in the volume of trademark litigation clogging the judicial system. For those of you interested in reading more on this please do read this study by K.M. Gopakumar on the use of INNs in India.

PPL registers annual revenues of Rs. 229.95 crores for FY 2010-11;

The latest filings of Phonographic Performance Ltd. (PPL) with the Registrar of Companies, has revealed the annual revenues of the copyright society to be at a healthy Rs. 229.95 crores (US $ 45 million) for the financial year 2010-2011. In comparison, the revenues for the previous financial year were at Rs. 203.40 crores. 

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The break-up of the annual revenues for 2010-11 is as follows:

(i) Broadcasting: Rs. 31 crores;

(ii) Public Performance: Rs. 31.64 crores;

(iii) Mobile Ringtones/Digital Streaming: Rs. 165.18 crores;

As usual the biggest growth has been registered in the mobile ring-tones & digital streaming segment. The revenues in this segment for the last financial year were in the neighbour-hood of Rs. 137.8 crores. Unlike PPL’s earlier annual reports, for example 2008-9 (available over here), which clearly mentions that PPL is collecting mobile ringtone royalties on behalf of IPRS, the present annual report is completely silent on this crucial fact. Earlier on this blog, we had pointed out how IPRS had itself contradicted this claim when it informed the Registrar of Copyright that it had not authorized PPL to collect revenues on its behalf. 

The mystery over the royalty sharing agreement between PPL & IPRS continues to be a mystery. I for one am extremely curious to know the exact nature of royalty distribution between members of PPL. Is the Board of PPL cornering a fair share of royalties for itself?

2011 at the IPO: a summary of controller's decisions

I cannot believe how fast time goes and we are end of yet another year!  For a tribute to the year gone by, we bring for our readers, a summary of the controller's decision delivered.  So before going further, Happy holidays wish you all a very happy and interesting new year 2012!!

Interesting statistics:
Number of decisions rendered: 97 including unavailable files.
Number of refusals/revocations:  89.5.5 (including one partial rejection, and unavailable files)
Number of grants:  7.5 (including one partial allowance).
Maximum number of decisions rendered by: Delhi patent office (42), closely followed by Mumbai (34); Chennai (20) -few decisions, with Kolkata (2) at the least number of decisions.
Many 3(d) decisions and a few 3(k) decisions.
Some Controller's have not given even one allowance!

A more detailed summary is available here in PDF.

#	Application #	Applicant	Decision	Comment
1	311/MUMNP/2006	HUIYANGTECH (USA) INC	Refused	Double patenting
2	925/CHE/2003	NOVARTIS AG	Refused	Double patenting
3	4015/DELNP/2006	WARNER-LAMBERT COMPANY LLC	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(d)
4	74/DEL/2005	Lalit Mahajan	Allowed	Principles of natural justice
5	75/Del/2005	Lalit Mahajan	Allowed	Principles of natural justice
6	2480/Del/2007	Lalit Mahajan	Allowed	Principles of natural justice
7	2653/Del/2006	Lalit Mahajan	Allowed	Principles of natural justice
8	2654/Del/2006	Lalit Mahajan	Allowed	Principles of natural justice
9	2690/DEL/2006	Lalit Mahajan	Allowed	Principles of natural justice
10	1995/del/2006	LES LABORATORIES SERVIER,FRANCE	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(d), 3(e)
11	924/DELNP/2006	BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM INTERNATIONAL GMBH	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(d)
12	1947/CHENP/2006	University of Sheffield	FILE UNAVAILABLE
13	1825/delnp/2004	M.I.M. HOLDINGS LIMITED	Refused	2(1)(j)
14	623/MUMNP/2004	PHARMACIA AND UPJOHN COMPANY	Refused	3(d)
15	50/CHENP/2006	H. LUNSBECK A/S	Refused	3(e), 2(1)(ja)
16	27/MUMNP/2007	BAYER HEALTHCARE AG	Refused	3(c ), Double patenting
17	907/MUMNP/2008	EMTHRAX, LLC	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(i)
18	934/MUMNP/2008	F. HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE AG.	Refused	3(i)
19	1782/del/2004	M/s. ACME Telepower Pvt. Ltd.	Revoked	12(1)(a), 10(4)
20	IN/PCT/2000/405/CHE	M/s BIOCHEMIE GESELLSCHAFT MBH	FILE UNAVAILABLE
21	3553/CHENP/2006	M/s EISAI CO., LTD	FILE UNAVAILABLE
22	906/MUMNP/2006	ULRICH BOGDAHN	Refused	10(4)(c), 10(5)
23	105/CHE/2005	Baiju V.N	Refused	2(1)(j), 2(1)(ja), 10(4)(a/b/c)
24	1588/del/2004	ACME TELE POWER (P) LIMITED	Revoked	2(1)(j), 3(d)
25	680/MUMNP/2006	H.LUNDBECK A/S	Refused	Double patenting
26	6221/delnp/2006	GLAXOSMITHKLINE AUSTRALIA PTY,LTD	Refused	2(1)(h), 3(h), 3(j)
27	1696/delnp/2004	KYORIN PHARMACEUTICAL CO.LTD	Refused	2(1)(j)
28	1459/CHE/2004	TVS Motor Company Ltd.	Refused	2(1)(j), 2(1)(ja)
29	1799/delnp/2004	teva pharmaceutical industries ltd	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(d), 10(5)
30	1718/CHENP/2005	Premier Evolvics Pvt. Ltd.	Revoked	2(1)(j)
31	1049/CHE/2004	NATCO PHARMA LIMITED	Refused	3(e), 2(1)(ja)
32	1251/del/2004	LEK PHARMACEUTICAL AND CHEMICAL COMPANY D.D.	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(d)
33	1324/delnp/2006	ALLERGAN,INC.	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(e)
34	524/DEL/2004	Council of Scientific and Industrial Research	Refused	2(1)(j)
35	1331/DELNP/2004	Micro Algae Corporation, U.S.A.	Refused	3(i)
36	1688/MUM/2006	NANO CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY PVT. LTD.	Refused	2(1)(j)
37	368/MUM/2008	Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd.	Refused	2(1)(j)
38	614/MUMNP/2006	Aegera Therapeutics, Inc.	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(i)
39	1440/MUM/2007	TRANSASIA BIO-MEDICALS LTD.	Refused	2(1)(j)
40	2048/MUM/2007	TRANSASIA BIO-MEDICALS LTD.	Refused	2(1)(j)
41	367/MUM/2008	TRANSASIA BIO-MEDICALS LTD.	Refused	2(1)(j)
42	368/MUM/2008	TRANSASIA BIO-MEDICALS LTD.	Refused	2(1)(j)
43	1856/MUM/2007	TRANSASIA BIO-MEDICALS LTD	Refused	2(1)(j)
44	2247/MUM/2007	TRANSASIA BIO-MEDICALS LTD.	Refused	2(1)(j)
45	2048/MUM/2007	TRANSASIA BIO-MEDICALS LTD.	Refused	2(1)(j)
46	1439/MUM/2007	TRANSASIA BIO-MEDICALS LTD.	Refused	2(1)(j)
47	2355/MUM/2007	TRANSASIA BIO-MEDICALS LTD.	Refused	2(1)(j)
48	5242/delnp/2005	Huawei technologies co. Ltd.	Refused	3(k)
49	1436/MUMNP/2005	PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, USA	Refused	Double patenting
50	4438/delnp/2006	Teva Pharmaceutical Industries	Refused	2(1)(ja), 3(d)
51	830/CHENP/2006	SCHERING CORPORATION	Refused	Double patenting
52	1055/DELNP/2004	Laboratoires Serono SA	Refused	2(1)(j)
53	5397/DELNP/2005	QUIMICA SINTETICA S.A. SPAIN	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(d)
54	223/MUMNP/2007	LESAFFRE ET COMPAGNIE	Refused	3(i)
55	1707/MUMNP/2008	GENERAL HOSPITAL	Refused	2(1)(j)
56	599/DEL/2006	OPEN PLUG	Refused	3(k)
57	1237/DELNP/2006	General Electric Company.	FILE UNAVAILABLE
58	0011/DEL/2005	ANJULA LAXMI	FILE UNAVAILABLE
59	1602/DELNP/2004	GUSTAV KLAUKE GMBH	FILE UNAVAILABLE
60	1996/DEL/2006	LES Laboratories SERVIER	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(d), 3(e)
61	863/MUMNP/2003	PFIZER PRODUCTS INC.	Revoked	2(1)(j), 3(d)
62	2473/DELNP/2006	ENI S.p.A.	Refused	2(1)(j)
63	727/MUM/2006	OMNIACTIVE HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD.	Refused	2(1)(j)
64	1225/MUM/2005	IPCA LABORATORIES LTD	Refused	2(1)(j)
65	991/MUMNP/2003	PFIZER PRODUCTS INC	Refused	3(d)
66	399/CHENP/2003	UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE	FILE UNAVAILABLE
67	593/CHENP/2005	M/s Novartis AG	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(d)
68	201/MUMNP/2007	UCB FARCHIM S.A [AG-LTD]	Refused	Double patenting
69	1299/MUMNP/2006	KAPITZ, CARL-HEINZ & KNAPP, GERHARD, Germany	Refused	Double patenting
70	2279/DEL/2005	MAM CHAND,HARKESH KUMAR,BANSI LAL AND RAJESH KUMAR	Revoked	2(1)(j)
71	1024/MUMNP/2005	HELSINN HEALTHCARE S.A.	Refused	3(d), 3(e), 3(i)
72	320/MAS/2003	K.Devaraj	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(b). 10(4)
73	1618/DEL/2005	YUNG CHI Y.C. INDUSTRIAL CO.	Revoked	Prior Use
74	811/MUMNP/2005	E.I.DU PONT NEMOURS AND COMPANY	Refused	2(1)(j)
75	3599/CHENP/2006	RHODIA CHEMIE	FILE UNAVAILABLE
76	2042/DEL/2004	LABORATOIRES DES PRODUITS ETHIQUES ETHYPHARM	Refused	2(1)(j)
77	602/del/2007	Gilead Sciences Inc.	Refused	2(1)(j), 3(d)
78	2100/MUMNP/2007	AM PHYTO CONSEIL S. A. R. L.	Refused	Abandoned
79	756/CHENP/2006	UNITED RESOURCE RECOVERY CORPORATION	Refused	2(1)(j)
80	1083/MUMNP/2007	GOOGLE INC.	Refused	3(k)
81	6618/DELNP/2006	ABBOTT BIOTECHNOLOGY LTD	Partial allowance/refusal	3(d), 3(e), 3(i)
82	5043/DELNP/2011	Durect Corporation	Withdrawn	Delay
83	1194/KOL/2005	BHARAT HEAVY ELECTRICALS LIMITED	Refused	2(1)(j)
84	683/CHE/2004	C.V.NAGARAJA RAO	Refused	10(4)(c), 10(5)
85	1494/DELNP/2010	Information In Place  Inc.	Withdrawn	Delay
86	5402/DELNP/2011	Abbott Laboratories	Wihdrawn	Delay
87	1098/CHENP/2007	JAPAN TOBACCO INC	Refused	2(1)(ja), 3(i)
88	906/MUMNP/2006	ULRICH BOGDAHN	Refused	3(i)
89	540/MUMNP/2007	GOOGLE INC.	Refused	3(k)
90	4331/DELNP/2005	INDUCTOTHERM CORP.	FILE UNAVAILABLE
91	1945/CHENP/2005	THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE	Refused	3(i)
92	500/CHENP/2004	VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS LIMITED	Granted
93	2490/DEL/2004	SU-KAM COMMUNICATION SYSTEM LTD	Refused	2(1)(j)
94	2000/DELNP/2003	ENTELOS , INC.	Refused	3(k), 3(i)
95	102/DELNP/2005	MOTOROLA, INC.	Refused	Double patenting
96	1327/KOLNP/2005	SANDVIK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AB	Refused	2(1)(j)
97	3801/DELNP/2005	SYNTHES AG CHUR,	Refused	Abandoned