IP JOURNALIST: A PROFESSION OF THE FUTURE

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IP JOURNALIST A PROFESSION OF THE FUTURE
DR. V. SAGAR
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THE FINANCIAL VALUE OF IP TODAY

• In any balance sheet IP is an invisible but
  possibly the most valuable asset.
• Imagine the value of BAYERS Aspirin invented by
  FELIX Hoffman and patented in the year 1898 and
  has been regarded as a most valuable
  pharmaceutical patent of all times.
• BAYER still sells Aspirin 500m EUROS - equal to
  Rs. 3300 CRORES - A YEAR. Annual Production 70
  million Pounds still the worlds most widely
  used drug. This is a fraction of the sale by
  generics and derivatives.
• The second most important invention has been
  Penicillin re-discovered by Alexander Fleming
  and patented in 1948. Anybodys guess as to
  SALES OF PENICILLIN AND OTHER ANTIBIOTECS AGENTS
  AND THEIR DERIVATIVES.

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• Take a more recent example LIPITOR (an invention
  of PFIZER) against CHOLESTROL. Sales running at
  something like 15-20 billion (Rs. 75000 Crores)
  per annum. The patent has been in force for 19
  years and will expire next year but generic
  version by the inventor and otherwise will
  continue. Total value could be anything.
• And who has not heard of Pfizers acquisition of
  WYETH for 68 billion. All such news are worth
  following up.

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• AND THERE ARE OTHER BLOCKBUSTERS ,i.e., DRUGS
  WITH TURNOVER OF ONE BILLION DOLLARS (Rs. 5000
  CRORES) A YEAR OR MORE. OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS
  THERE HAVE BEEN SOMETHING LIKE A COUPLE OF
  HUNDRED BLOCKBUSTERS IN THE MARKET, ALL PRODUCTS
  OF NEW MOLECULES OR COMPOUNDS.

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HUMAN VALUE OF A PHARMACEUTICAL INVENTION

• The value of patents especially in terms of
  human HEALTH and welfare is tremendous. Imagine
  how much pain has ASPIRIN saved the humanity (and
  they go on discovering other advantages of
  ASPIRIN, e.g., as a Blood Thinner). Advantages
  of Penicillin and Lipitor. The list is unending.
• Importance of Patents and inventions cannot be
  underestimated in terms of human life and
  wellness. By the same token research being
  carried in drugs for health care is no less
  important. Reporting thereon is obviously
  important for the public at large and is a
  natural job for a Journalist.

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FINANCIAL AND HUMAN VALUE OF TRADEMARKS

• A trade mark assures quality and thus
  contributes to fulfillment of HUMAN requirements.
• Life of a trade mark is unlimited as against a
  Patent which is valid for 20 years.
• Imagine the financial value of Trademark Coca
  Cola (definitely not my favorite) or to take an
  Indian example Tata. Difficult to put a PRICE
  TAG thereon. Their contribution to human well
  being may not be as high as that of patents but
  they remain important perhaps more in financial
  terms.

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DESIGNS

• Designs are certainly more important than trade
  marks.
• The present century has been dubbed as the
  century of designs. Automobiles, Clothing,
  accessories, household goods, watches, pens, the
  list is unlimited. The cars change, their look
  every year. A recognized high fashion designer
  (HAUTE' COUTURIER) has to produce something like
  200 designs every year (4 collections of 50
  models each) and there are fifteen of them
  but then there are thousand others all over the
  world even if they do not carry the title of
  haute' coutur.
• A design workshop of very well known designer I
  have visited employs over 3000 designers. There
  is hardly any aspect of daily life not covered by
  new designs.

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• And of course Industrial designs- Machines of all
  kinds.
• All of the foregoing involves IP and falls to
  the field of Journalism. The world is hungry for
  information on all of the foregoing.

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WHAT DO WE EXPECT OF A GOOD JOURNALIST

• Well Informed/Accurate, straight forward
  reporting for a reader
• Well informed in the context of Patents means
  knowledge of the subject a good academic
  background therein up to date knowledge of
  market developments the ongoing research in
  various fields (reference medical magazines
  like Lancet, latest medical literature).
  Legislative developments International
  conventions judicial pronouncements Research
  centers like CSIR Corporations - both Indian and
  foreign (Annual reports, press releases, etc.,)
  Specialized conferences and so on.
• India is already in the phase where specialized
  reporting is demanded.
• As regards the legislative developments -
  knowledge of controversies going on e.g.
  litigation on the subjects of patentability of
  derivatives, software, office systems, business
  methods and linkage of marketability and
  patentability.

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• Fortunately knowledge re Trade Marks is easily
  acquired through interaction in daily life.
  However change in legislation, international
  conventions and cases like - BUDWEISER V BUD,
  need to be watched.
• FIELD OF DESIGNS IS CERTAINLY MORE INTERESTING
• Must understand the chronology of a design
• Aware of the developments in the world of
  designs. I remember how at a fashion show in
  Paris a few years ago there was excitement when
  elevated shoulder were displayed (they reigned
  the market for a long time).
• By the same token trends in Color are important

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• As one can imagine the combo of medicine and
  design is affecting our lives in a big way and
  the world wants to know what is going on and this
  is where a good Journalist comes in.
• Like every branch of industrial and professional
  activity specialization in Professional
  Journalism is unavoidable.
• IP Journalism has a future and a bright one at
  that.

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• THANK YOU