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December 19, 2010
Clearly, the patentee’s exclusive rights exist only during the term of the patent. Since
Phil. Pharmawealth, Inc. v. Pfizer, Inc. & Pfizer (Phil.), Inc. G.R. No. 167715, 17 the patent was registered on 16 July 1987, it expired, in accordance with the
November 2010 provisions of R.A. 165, after 17 years, or 16 July 2004. Thus, after 16 July 2004,
Pfizer no longer possessed the exclusive right to make, use, and sell the products
by: Alpheus D. Macalalad covered by their patent. The CA was wrong in issuing a temporary restraining order
after the cut-off date.
Facts: Pfizer is the registered owner of a patent pertaining to Sulbactam Ampicillin. It
is marketed under the brand name “Unasyn.” Sometime in January and February b) According to IP Code, the Director General of the IPO exercises exclusive
2003, Pfizer discovered that Pharmawealth submitted bids for the supply of jurisdiction over decisions of the IPO-BLA. The question in the CA concerns an
Sulbactam Ampicillin to several hospitals without the Pfizer’s consent. Pfizer then interlocutory order, and not a decision. Since the IP Code and the Rules and
demanded that the hospitals cease and desist from accepting such bids. Pfizer also Regulations are bereft of any remedy regarding interlocutory orders of the IPO-BLA,
demanded that Pharmawealth immediately withdraw its bids to supply Sulbactam the only remedy available to Pfizer is to apply the Rules and Regulations suppletorily.
Ampicillin. Pharmawealth and the hospitals ignored the demands. Under the Rules, a petition for certiorari to the CA is the proper remedy. This is
consistent with the Rules of Court. Thus, the CA had jurisdiction.
Pfizer then filed a complaint for patent infringement with a prayer for permanent
injunction and forfeiture of the infringing products. A preliminary injunction effective for c) Yes. Forum shopping is defined as the act of a party against whom an adverse
90 days was granted by the IPO’s Bureau of Legal Affairs (IPO-BLA). Upon judgment has been rendered in one forum, of seeking another (and possibly
expiration, a motion for extension filed by Pfizer was denied. Pfizer filed a Special favorable) opinion in another forum (other than by appeal or the special civil action of
Civil Action for Certiorari in the Court of Appeals (CA) assailing the denial. certiorari), or the institution of two (2) or more actions or proceedings grounded on the
same cause on the supposition that one or the other court would make a favorable
While the case was pending in the CA, Pfizer filed with the Regional Trial Court of disposition.
Makati (RTC) a complaint for infringement and unfair competition, with a prayer for
injunction. The RTC issued a temporary restraining order, and then a preliminary The elements of forum shopping are: (a) identity of parties, or at least such parties
injunction. that represent the same interests in both actions; (b) identity of rights asserted and
reliefs prayed for, the reliefs being founded on the same facts; (c) identity of the two
Pharmawealth filed a motion to dismiss the case in the CA, on the ground of forum preceding particulars, such that any judgment rendered in the other action will,
shopping. Nevertheless, the CA issued a temporary restraining order. Pharmawealth regardless of which party is successful, amount to res judicata in the action under
again filed a motion to dismiss, alleging that the patent, the main basis of the case, consideration. This instance meets these elements.
had already lapsed, thus making the case moot, and that the CA had no jurisdiction to
review the order of the IPO-BLA because this was granted to the Director General. The parties are clearly identical. In both the complaints in the BLA-IPO and RTC, the
The CA denied all the motions. Pharmawealth filed a petition for review on Certiorari rights allegedly violated and the acts allegedly violative of such rights are identical,
with the Supreme Court. regardless of whether the patents on which the complaints were based are different.
In both cases, the ultimate objective of Pfizer was to ask for damages and to
Issues: permanently prevent Pharmawealth from selling the contested products. Relevantly,
the Supreme Court has decided that the filing of two actions with the same objective,
a) Can an injunctive relief be issued based on an action of patent infringement when as in this instance, constitutes forum shopping.
the patent allegedly infringed has already lapsed?
b) What tribunal has jurisdiction to review the decisions of the Director of Legal Affairs Owing to the substantial identity of parties, reliefs and issues in the IPO and RTC
of the Intellectual Property Office? cases, a decision in one case will necessarily amount to res judicata in the other
c) Is there forum shopping when a party files two actions with two seemingly different action.
causes of action and yet pray for the same relief?
Held:
The judgment of the lower court is affirmed, with costs. So ordered.
a) No. The provision of R.A. 165, from which the Pfizer’s patent was based, clearly
states that "[the] patentee shall have the exclusive right to make, use and sell the
patented machine, article or product, and to use the patented process for the purpose
of industry or commerce, throughout the territory of the Philippines for the term of the
patent; and such making, using, or selling by any person without the authorization of
ATRICK HENRY FRANK and WILLIAM HENRY GOHN vs. CONSTANCIO CASE DIGEST: CARLOS GSELL vs. VALERIANO VELOSO YAP-JUE
BENITO FACTS:
G.R. No. L-27793, March 15, 1928
The principal case to which these proceedings are ancillary, was an action to
FACTS: Plaintiffs are the owners of a patent covering hemp-stripping machine No. enjoin infringement of a patented process for manufacture of curved handles for
1519579 issued to them by the United States Patent Office and duly registered in the canes, parasols, and umbrellas. In that case, plaintiff established his title to a valid
Bureau of Commerce and Industry of the Philippine Islands under the provisions of patent covering the process in question, and obtained against this defendant a
Act No. 2235 judgment, granting a perpetual injunction restraining its infringement, which
judgment was affirmed by this Court on appeal. The order was couched in the
Plaintiffs allege that the defendant manufactured a hemp-stripping machine in which, following terms:
without authority from the plaintiffs, and has embodied and used such spindles and
their method of application and use, and is exhibiting his machine to the public for “It is ordered that the defendant abstain from manufacturing canes and umbrellas
the purpose of inducing its purchase. Frank and Gohn stress that use by the Benito of with a curved handle by means of a lamp or blowpipe fed with mineral oil or
such spindles and the principle of their application to the stripping of hemp is in petroleum, which process was protected by patent no. 19288, issued in favor of
violation of, and in conflict with, plaintiffs' patent, together with its conditions and Henry Gsell, and by him transferred to Carlos Gsell”.
specifications.
Thereafter the defendant continued to manufacture curved cane handles for
Plaintiffs assert the violation of infringement upon the patent granted to Frank & walking sticks and umbrellas by a process in all respects identical with that used by
Gohn, and requested that an action for injunction and damages be instituted against the plaintiff under his patent, except only that he substituted for a lamp fed with
Benito. petroleum or mineral oil, a lamp fed with alcohol.
Respondent on the other hand contends that it had no prior knowledge of the prior The trial court found the defendant “not guilty” of contempt as charged; and
existence of the hemp-stripping invention of the plaintiffs nor had any intent to this court, on appeal, held that “The violation, if there has been any, was not of such
imitate the Frank’s product. Likewise, the defendant contended that the facts alleged a character that it could be made patent by the mere annunciation of the acts
therein do not constitute a cause of action, that it is ambiguous and vague. The lower performed by the defendant, which are alleged to constitute the said violation.
court rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, to which was later affirmed by the Consequently, the contempt with which the accused is charged has not been fully
appellate court. and satisfactorily proved, and the order appealed from should accordingly be
affirmed in so far as it holds that the defendant is not guilty of contempt.
HELD: As a rule, the burden of proof to substantiate a charge of infringement is
with the plaintiff. Where, however, the plaintiff introduces the patent in evidence, if Substantially, the same question is submitted in these new proceedings as that
it is in due form, it affords a prima facie presumption of its correctness and validity. submitted in the former case.
The decision of the Commissioner of Patents in granting the patent is always
presumed to be correct. The burden the shifts to the defendant to overcome by ISSUE:
competent evidence this legal presumption.
Whether the use of a patented process by a third person, without license or
The patent in the case at bar, having been introduced in evidence, affords a prima authority therefore, constitutes an infringement when the alleged infringer has
facie presumption of its correctness and validity. Hence, this is not a case of a substituted in lieu of some unessential part of the patented process a well-known
conflict between two different patents. In the recent of Temco Electric Motor Co. vs. mechanical equivalent.
Apco Mfg. Co., decided by the Supreme Court of the United States ruled “an
improper cannot appropriate the basic patent of another, and if he does so without HELD:
license is an infringer, and may be used as such. It is well established that an
improver cannot appropriate the basic patent of another and that the improver Counsel for plaintiff invokes the doctrine of “mechanical equivalents” in
without a license is an infringer and may be sued as such.” support of his contention, and indeed that doctrine is applicable to the facts of the
case. This doctrine is founded upon sound rules of reason and logic, and unless
restrained or modified by law in particular jurisdiction, is of universal application, so
Arellano, C.J., Torres, Mapa, Willard, and Tracey, JJ., concur. that it matters not whether a patent be issued by one sovereignty or another, the
doctrine may properly be invoked to protect the patentee from colorable invasions of abuses which might result from the exercise of the exclusive rights conferred by the
his patent under the guise of a substitution of some part of his invention by some patent. An example provided of possible abuses is “failure to work;” however, as
well-known mechanical equivalent. such, is merely supplied by way of an example, it is plain that the treaty does not
preclude the inclusion of other forms of categories of abuses. The legislative intent in
The use of a process in all respects identical with a process protected by a the grant of a compulsory license was not only to afford others an opportunity to
valid patent, save only that a well-known mechanical equivalent is substituted in lieu provide the public with the quantity of the patented product, but also to prevent the
of some particular part of the patented process is an infringement upon the rights of growth of monopolies. Certainly, the growth of monopolies was among the abuses
the owner of the patent, which will be enjoined in appropriate proceeding, and the which Section A, Article 5 of the Convention foresaw, and which our Congress
use of such process, after the order enjoining its use has been issued, is a “contempt”, likewise wished to prevent in enacting.
under the provision of section 172 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
ssue:
Whether or not the petitioner has the right to assail the validity of the patented work
of the respondent?
Ruling: