International Conference on Intellectual Property Rights
We are pleased to announce that International IPR Conference will be held on 8-9 January, 2009 at Hotel Taj Bengal, Kolkata. The theme of the Conference is "Empowering Business Entities thorugh Knowledge Mangement in the Field of IPR". for details, please Log on to www.iprconference.com

PATENT
PATENT ON METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS FOR DIABETES
Invention has turned into success in the diagnosis field of the medical science as Echo Therapeutics Inc. has obtained a new patent in Diabetes care. Invention includes material make up and the process of the preparation of polyethylene Glycol based hydrogel intended to be used at home as well as for the hospital uses. The device is invented in order to measure the blood sugar transdermaly.

GILLET’S NEW TECHNOLOGY
Gillete is seeking a patent for the razor with maximum of 4-5 metal blades and an elongated bent metal support. Further, the invention includes the blade size less than 1 mm in length and less than 0.9 mm from the cutting edge to the blade. Gillet has obtained the patent rights in US and WIPO.

TRADEMARK
PEPSICO TO GIVEUP THE LOGO
Here is the time for PepsiCo India, to remove the logo of a snow-capped mountain within six months from its packaged mineral water product Aquafina to avoid the misconception that Aquafina is solely a mountain made product. According to the The court’s dicision it is suggested to add the phrase ‘purity guaranteed’ as per the norms of the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) to its label. The court said that according to the logo the packaged mineral water, thought to be manufactured and marketed by the company and originated in the mountain, which in turn created a misleading impression in the minds of public. The court finally allowed the company to use its logo comprising the mountain’s picture on its water product.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
CHAUHAN’S LEGAL BATTLE WITH MAAZA
The brand Maaza has turned into a IPR’s legal battle between Bisleri and Coca Cola. Bisleri’s International Chairman, Ramesh Chauhan served a legal notice to Coca-Cola, seeking compensation of $50 million and claiming that Aqua Mineral (AMPL) is the “Successor” of the holding rights formulation of the Maaza Trade Mark, its secret formula and IPR. In response to this, TCCC moved to the Delhi High Court. Mr. Chauhan asked the Hon’ble High Court to vacate the on the ground of lack of jurisdiction.

CHINA ENSURES OF TAKING SERIOUS STEPS TO PROTECT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
China has always been on the priority watch list over intellectual property rights protection of the US Department of Commerce .It had also filed a case in April last year at the World Trade Organization over the prevalent practice of copyright piracy in China which has resulted the US companies to lose billions of dollars each year. Assistant commerce minister of China, Mr.Chong Quan strongly defended the efforts of China to protect intellectual property rights in a gathering of the US industry and government held in Beijing, on Friday. He also ensured that China is
taking serious steps for enforcing Intellectual property protection.

GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION
DOES TIRUPATI LADDOO WORTH GI PROTECTION
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) India’s richest temple which is renowned for its famous Laddoo, makes around 50 million laddoos every year. TTD had sought GI protection for this delicious sweet .The GI registry India has suggested that if this Laddoo has to go for the market monopoly, it has to make sure that this similar sweets will not be available any where else in the local market. GI registry has taken the application seriously for further consideration whether this should actually go for Trademark protection rather than going for GI protection.

SETTLEMENT OF BASMATI ISSUE BETWEEN INDIA & PAKISTAN
Recently Pakistan and India decided to sort out the basmati rice registration issue under GI. In June both Islamabad and New Delhi agreed to work together giving importance to the various aspects of joint registration. India exported EU and Gulf market since May 2006 which was not original. Pakistan decided to go for the DNA test of the super basmati and concluded that it was exactly matching with the variety notified in Gazette of Pakistan on Jan 1, 1998. It is now clear that super basmati originally grown in Pakistan as a cross between traditional pure basmati and modern dwarf rice. Finally super basmati is recognized universally as Pakistan’s property which fetched Pakistan to get an excellent market value.

PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION
FORMATION OF ANTI-INFRINGEMENT BUREAU FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ON PLANT MATERIAL
In recent years the illegal reproduction and distribution of plant genetics, have resulted in a huge number of end products on the market which has a severe negative impact on breeders, as well as the entire vegetable value chain. So, in order to tackle the problem the main internationally operating and research-based vegetable seed companies have set up a joint Anti-Infringement Bureau for Intellectual Property Rights which will focus mainly on the detection of illegally propagated plant material, its trade and distribution and also to prevent the unauthorized use of registered names of protected varieties. The participant companies are Bejo Zaden, De Ruiter Seeds, Enza Zaden, Vilmorin Cie., Nunhems, Rijk Zwaan, Sakata Seed, Semillas Fito, Seminis, Syngenta Seeds and Takii Seed.

PLANT HAVING ANTI-MALARIAL ACTIVITY HAS EARNED SOUTH AFRICA A WORLDWIDE PATENT AGREEMENT.
The herb belongs to the Asteraceae family, is very bitter and has a strong, oily smell. The director of the indigenous knowledge systems lead programme at the Medical Research Council, Dr Motlalepula Matsabisa, stated that the MRC had applied for patent protection in the use of the plant’s chemical properties to manufacture antimalarial drugs in several countries like China, America, Egypt, India and Brazil. He also said that the MRC has also entered into mutually beneficial agreements with several local communities, who use the plant for medicinal purposes so that even the communities are profited if the drug becomes commercially successful. Communities would also be trained by the MRC to grow and harvest the plant commercially.
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