Ghostwriting Troubles!!!

Ghostwriting is not a recent development, but it has been very much in practice since the days of Mozart. The Classical Era Composer was known for having ghostwritten music for wealthy patrons. Political leaders have been exploiting this avenue, along with many Executives and celebrities; who do not prefer to invest much of their time in relating to the public en masse, the lives they lead.

Recently, the erstwhile Chancellor of West Germany and the reunited Germany, Helmut Kohl, got into a legal tussle with his former Ghostwriter Heribert Schwan. After the fall out between Kohl and Schwan (publication of 3 books together), the ghostwriter has published "Vermachtnis: Die Kohl Protokole", recording many direct quotes of Kohl. Mr. Kohl had decided against the publication of the fourth book. 

Kohl in his interviews with Schwan had made very direct comments about the present German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and Mikhael Gorbachev too.

The former Chancellor has been successful in obtaining an injunction against any further printing of the book, which include the quotes of Kohl as recorded in the previous interviews with Schwan. The court has gone ahead in supporting Kohl's claims holding the ghostwriter's act to be an unlawful infringement of confidentiality, since the book has been published against the express wishes of his.

This is not the end of the tale, let's see how the story unfolds.


- Bagmisikha Puhan

Roche loses Herceptin Patent

After the landmark grant of Compulsory license (CL) for Bayer’s Nexavar to Natco last year, a trend of CL application seems to have started in India. Recently, health ministry has recommended CL for a breast cancer drug Trastuzumab after various campaigns held regarding the affordability of this expensive drug in India. However, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has refused the CL for Trastuzumab (Herceptin) manufactured by Swiss multinational Roche.

It was previously reportedthat the health ministry has suggestedrevoking the patent in public interest under section 66 of Indian patent act 1970. However, a recent clarification from Kolkata patent office suggests that the three patents for Herceptin were not revoked but were abandoned or withdrawn because Roche failed to file the documents before deadline and did not appear for the hearing concerning its Herceptin patent.Although, Roche did not make any comments regarding the lapse of its patent; the Herceptin patent IN205534 is diminishing due to its post-grant opposition. India awarded patent for Roche’s Herceptin in 2007 which is currently extended till 2019. Three more patents related to the original patents were further filed, but were withdrawn since Roche failed to meet the deadline. The request for examination of one of the patents was not filed before deadline, while the same was filed for other two after the patent grant, which is not permitted in Indian patent law. Herceptin is said to be the third biggest seller by Roche.

Although, the Herceptin patent is abandoned, the generic version of this drug may not come to the market anytime soon. Currently, Roche’s Herceptin sells for Rs.1,34,000 per vial but Roche also sells the cut price version of this drug through an Indian generic company Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. at the cost of Rs.70,000 per vial. Any generic version of this drug in Indian markets will lead to patent infringement. Besides, this drug is a Biotech drug and developing such a drug under generic company set up is not easy.

There are speculations that CL was refused by DIPP after widespread criticism from International community on CL to Nexavar. In the recent times, Indian IP office has been serious about the submission of ‘statement of working’ or form 27 by the companies regarding their working of patents in India. However, last year for the first time this information from various companies has been made available to public. Although the reason behind the disclosure of such confidential information is not known but it is wondered that lack of such information by the company regarding the working of the patent in India or information on non-working of patent may favour companies seeking CL. On one hand,with government enabling affordability of lifesaving drug to patients and on the other hand critics pointing fingers at Indian IP laws, only time will where India’s healthcare is heading.

Authored by Sai Ratna Manjari

Posted By Aurobinda Panda

For Biswajit Sarkar – Advocates – IP Attorney