Protest Against New Paten Law at Indian Embassy

January 10, 2005

Protest against new patent law at Indian Embassy in US

Washington, Jan. 9 (PTI): Several organisations campaigning for cheaper drugs

for developing nations today demonstrated in front of the Indian embassy here

against India's new patent law, alleging that it represented " a surrender " by

the country to major pharmaceutical firms.

The amendments " would impact 200 impoverished countries to which India was

exporting low-cost medicines " , Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance,

Zeitz, said in a press release.

Besides the Global AIDS Alliance, Washington-based Association for India's

Development, Global AIDS Alliance (US), International Commission of Jurists

(Punjab) and Insaaf International (India) took part in the protest. The

organisations alleged that the new patent law represented " a surrender " by India

to major pharmaceutical companies.

The protesters said 500 people and organisations have signed a petition to the

President and Prime Minister of India, demanding prevention of the

implementation of the Ordinance.

In the petition, the protesters also urged the Government to lead a coalition of

developing countries to " resist WTO pressure " to change their laws which may

have a " devastating " effect on people and the environment.

In line with its WTO obligations, India on January 1adopted the product patent

regime for food, drugs and chemicals and embedded software with adequate

safeguards to protect the interests of the common man.

The Government introduced the product patent regime by amending the Patent Act

by way of an Ordinance on December 26 and notifying rules on December 28.

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