Patent Litigation in India Pravin Anand And Anand

Patent Litigation in India Pravin Anand And Anand MIP International Patent Forum 2011 April 5, 2011, London

The Challenges… First, a weak Patent Law Pre and post grant oppositions (Span case) Rigid deadlines (4) Section 3(d) - Novartis Section 8 - Chemtura Working requirements , Compulsory licence Section 39

The Challenges… Second, Generics, Copyleft, open-source aggressive: Parliamentary Forums Judge training Press/Blogs No counter measures by innovators

The Challenges… Third, top ten filers are chemistry patents World trend: top filers are IT companies Being an IT Power, ironic that Chemistry leads Generics – very patent savvy. .

The Changes… 2005 Patent Amendments CPC – Streamlining Processes Supreme Court – 4 month orders (20 in 2010) Delhi High Court – 70% IP cases Docket Management Old order – 5 to 10 years Today – possibly 6 months to one year

e Court

Remedies Revolution Ex parte injunctions – before launch “status quo” Expedited trial preferred Anton Piller, Mareva Injunctions John Doe Orders Damages : Punitive / Exemplary (65 orders)

Time Inc vs. Lokesh Srivastava • Red Border contributed to finding of dishonesty • Punitive/ exemplary damages granted for the first time

Strategies Design action before launch • Issues : Document : Witness analysis – cannot miss the document window in fast track • Expert evidence of great value ( average – 2 witnesses per side, 6 hours cross, 150 ques) • Emphasis on original documents • Section 65 – Secondary evidence • Section 65 B – Internet downloads

Strategies Invalidation before IPAB or counter claim before High Court • IPAB slow • High Court Fast • May avoid cease & desist notice Amendments allowed - infringement action or after invalidation

Strategies Judges Rely on foreign case law – favorable decisions elsewhere help – gestalt perception judges often, a third force Generics look at prosecution histories all over – EPO highly respected Suppression –big cause for failure - overstate

Strategies Demystify the science Use the defendants patent applications for estoppel arguments Highlight Public Interest, pricing, patient access, investment in drug development Avoid Interim – move to Fast track

Cases Novartis Gleevec Supreme Court (19 th April) Roche vs Cipla – final Arguments (April) GSK vs Union of India – writ quashed publication United Phosphorus – pesticide formulation – suit decreed 34 days 20 other suits of BMS, Sanofi Aventis, Scherring Plough etc likely to conclude in 2011

Conclusions • Despite the weak legislation, major positive changes • Bulk decisions in 2011 will show the long lasting trends • Other high courts may be positively impacted – time will tell. .