Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Aurobindo Pharma lands in patent litigation cases in USA

Three multinational drug makers - The Medicines Company, Hospira and Kowa Company Ltd - in separate cases - have dragged Indian firm Aurobindo Pharma to court on allegations of patent infringement.
According to the petition copies, Hospira has alleged that Aurobindo's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to make generic version of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection would infringe its patented drug Precedex.

Aurobindo officials were unavailable for comments. However, a market analyst said that "these patent infringement cases are not uncommon for generic drug maker. The product launch will depend on the outcome of the court and US FDA approvals".

 Hospira filed the petition in the US District Court of Delaware. The drug is used for the sedation of initially intubated and mechanically ventilated patients during treatment in an intensive care setting. Similarly, the Medicines Company in a separate petition filed in the District Court of New Jersey alleged that the Indian drug maker's ANDA would infringe on it's drug - Angiomax- on two counts. Angiomax (bivalirudin) is used as an anticoagulant in patients with unstable angina undergoing percutaneous translurninal coronary angioplasty.

Resource: Business-Standard

Europe warns Google, Samsung on abusing phone patents

The European Commission says Motorola Mobility — which Google is selling to China's Lenovo — has abused its market position in Europe by refusing to grant crucial technology licenses to rival Apple, then suing Apple for infringement. 

However, the Commission's antitrust chief, Joaquin Almunia, said that he would not levy any fine this time, because European national laws have issued conflicting rulings in patent and licensing suits. 

Almunia is seeking to compel smartphone technology giants to license patents on reasonable terms, rather than using them as a tool to stymie competition. He said recent court battles around the world ultimately hinder innovation and harm consumers. 

In a related case, Samsung also avoided a fine for denying use of patents to Apple, by agreeing to submit future disagreements to arbitration.

Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Google helping Samsung win the patent infringement battle against Apple

Google has provided funding to help Samsung defend itself against Apple's patent-infringement claims, emails between the two companies revealed Tuesday.
Google patent attorney James Maccoun, in deposition testimony presented by Apple in court here, authenticated emails between Google and Samsung from 2012 that said that the Internet giant would "defend and indemnify" Samsung over its use of technology that Apple said infringed its patents. The emails said Google would help shoulder some of the cost for the defense, as well as for any damages should Samsung lose its battle.