TTK Healthcare, Robapharm move for settlement on Ossopan trademark dispute

The Intellectual Property Appellate Board allows two months adjournment for settlement talks

TTK Healthcare Ltd, a part of the TTK Group and Switzerland-based Robapharm AG, has informed the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) they were moving to bring a settlement to the long pending dispute over the trademark Ossopan, a calcium supplement.

The IPAB has allowed time to the parties to work towards a settlement.

According to available information, the dispute on the trademark and its validity has been going on between the two companies as early as 1992.

A petition was also filed by Robapharm in 1993, seeking permanent injunction restraining TTK Healthcare from using the name Ossopan or any other name or trademark deceptively or phonetically similar to Ossopan.

Last week, an application filed by Robapharm against TTK Healthcare appeared for hearing in the IPAB, where the counsel representing Robapharm said the company was looking for a settlement and had informed TTK Healthcare on this.

The counsel has asked for adjournment of hearing on the ground of proposed initiation of settlement talks. The counsel for TTK Healthcare was also present.

Considering the request, IPAB chairman Justice KN Basha and vice-chairman S Usha issued an order to call the matter "after two months for reporting settlement."

TTK Group officials did not offer a comment on the issue till the time of going to press. According to information available, Robapharm AG, which is a part of French firm Pierre Fabre Laboratories, has pharma products used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and of calcium deficiencies.