India clarifies pharma trade mark rules

Last week it released a list of international nonproprietary names (INNs) as declared by the World Health Organisation. It runs to more than 120 pages.

Indian law firm Khaitan & Co says that section 13 of the 1999 Trade Marks Act prevents the IP Office from registering commonly used and accepted names of any single chemical element/compound of a chemical substance or preparation, INNs or words deceptively similar to INNs as trade marks.

If the Registrar of Trade Marks has already registered any INNs, then they are liable to be cancelled.

The IP Office is now expected to tell examiners to examine pharmaceutical trade marks for any similarities to the list of non-proprietary names.