JK ROWLING LOSES LAWSUIT AGAINST AN INDIAN PUJA COMMITTEE
The Delhi High Court has rejected the claim made by lawyers representing the British author J.K. Rowling over the use of an imitation of her fictional Hogwarts Castle by a religious community group in Kolkata. The lawsuit had claimed that by using the replica of the magical castle and other themes from the popular Harry Potter books without permission, the religious group had violated the author's copyright and should pay for damages. The court allowed the group in Kolkata to use the structure (the Pandal) until October 26, when the festival ends. The religious group's lawyer had argued that since the celebrations were held in the public interest and they were not for profit, the community did not need to pay compensation. The group's massive structure in the shape of Hogwarts School was planned for the Hindu festival of the Goddess Durga, which celebrates her killing a demon and the victory of good over evil. (click HERE to enlarge image)

RESTRAIN ON FAKE HARRY POTTER SERIES
The Delhi High Court has restrained a Bangalore-based publishing firm (City Publisher) from printing and selling counterfeit books of the Harry Potter series. The publisher had copied the cover art and title of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and then written a new version of the story. The October 2 order restrains City Publication, its distributors and retailers from selling works in the Harry Potter series, infringing the copyright in the cover of the US and UK editions and infringing trade marks registered by Warner Bros ( producers of Harry Potter films).

EPO REVOKES ASTRA ZENECA'S EUROPEAN PATENT COVERING SYMBICORT®
The Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office made a final ruling on October 18, 2007 that Astra Zeneca’s European Patent No. EP0613371 (covering combination of Formoterol and Budesonide marketed as Symbicort®) has been revoked. Several companies including Liconsa, Miat, Generics UK and Norton Healthcare had opposed the ‘371 patent which was originally set to expire in 2012. SPCs were also granted in several EU states extending the expiry date of the ‘371 patent through 2015. Symbicort® is indicated for use in Asthma treatment.

ITAG Business Solutions Ltd. featured in The Hindu Business Line dated Oct. 16, 2007 of the Kolkata Edition.....more