Intellectual Property Rights — Key Discoveries

Key Discoveries

Novartis AG v. Union of India & Others

2013

This landmark Supreme Court judgment upheld Section 3(d) of the Patents Act, 1970, which prevents 'evergreening' of patents. Novartis sought a patent for the beta-crystalline form…

Natco Pharma Ltd. v. Bayer Corporation

2012

This was India's first compulsory license granted under Section 84 of the Patents Act, 1970, by the Controller General of Patents. Natco Pharma was granted a compulsory license to…

Basmati Rice Biopiracy Case (RiceTec Patent)

1997-2001

In 1997, a US company, RiceTec Inc., was granted a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for 'Basmati rice lines and grains,' claiming to have invented a new…

Turmeric Patent Case (S. Das & R. Das Patent)

1995-1997

In 1995, two Indian-origin scientists at the University of Mississippi Medical Center were granted a US patent for 'Use of Turmeric in Wound Healing.' India's Council of…

Neem Patent Case (W.R. Grace & Co. Patent)

1995-2005

In the early 1990s, the US company W.R. Grace & Co. obtained a European patent for a 'fungicidal composition' derived from the Neem tree, specifically for a method of controlling…

Dabur India Ltd. v. Emami Ltd.

2004

This case involved a trademark dispute between two major Indian FMCG companies over similar packaging and trade dress for their chyawanprash products. Dabur alleged that Emami's…

Bajaj Auto Ltd. v. TVS Motor Company Ltd.

2009

This case involved a patent infringement dispute over Bajaj Auto's DTS-i (Digital Twin Spark-ignition) technology used in its motorcycles. Bajaj alleged that TVS's 'Flame'…

Microsoft Corporation v. Yogesh Popat & Others

2005

This case dealt with copyright infringement related to software piracy. Microsoft successfully sued individuals involved in the unauthorized reproduction and sale of its software.…