Novartis v. Natco Pharma Limited – Patent Examination and Opposition proceedings under the Patents Act are ‘Parallel but Independent’, says Delhi High Court

In the case of Novartis Ag v. Natco Pharma Limited & Anr., a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court (in LPA 50/2023,) clarified that the process of substantive examination of a patent application and a pre-grant opposition proceeding are two separate and independent processes/proceedings, and that the opponent has no right to intervene in […]

India- Non-attendance at patent hearings cannot tantamount to abandonment

In Star Scientific Limited v. The Controller of Patents and Designs, C.A.(COMM.IPD-PAT) 20/2024, the Delhi High Court reversed the decision of the Controller of Patents and Designs which had rejected patent application no. 202017011947 on the ground that the Applicant/ Appellant did not attend the pre-scheduled hearing (and consequently, that all the objections raised raised […]

India- What constitutes ‘therapeutic efficacy’ when determining patentability of ‘new forms of known substances’

The Delhi High Court recently rendered a significant decision clarifying the concept of enhanced therapeutic efficacy, when determining the patentability of new forms of known substances. The case involved an appeal by the patent applicant challenging the rejection of their patent application under Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, 1970 (as amended) (the ‘Act’). Section […]

Court directs Indian Patent Office to issue reasoned decisions

Lack of proper reasoning in patent decisions by the Indian Patent Office (‘IPO‘) has been a cause for grave concern. In Dolby International AB (‘Dolby’ and/or the ‘Applicant’) v. The Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs [C.A.(COMM.IPD-PAT) 10/2021 and I.A. 13552/2021], the Delhi High Court was faced with a similar predicament, and took the opportunity […]

Amendments to Patents Law in Malaysia

The Malaysia Patent Office recently announced amendments to the Patents Act and Regulations, taking effect from 18 March 2022. Highlights of the key amendments are set out as follows: 1.     New Section giving effect to Budapest Treaty A new section is introduced to the Patents Act and Regulations giving effect to the Budapest Treaty.  The deposit […]

Salient points concerning the law of anticipation in the case of Element Six Technologies Ltd v. IIa Technologies Pte Ltd.

On February 7, 2020, the Singapore High Court reported its decision in the case of Element Six Technologies Ltd v. IIa Technologies Pte Ltd. [2020] SGHC 26, which treated various issues pertaining to novelty, priority date and anticipation. In particular, there are several interesting points in the decision concerning the law of anticipation which will […]