Bayer Intellectual Property GMBH and Others v New Clicks South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Others (7 June 2023) (2022/8099; 06238/2007) [2023] ZACCP 1; 2023 BIP 1 (COP) (7 June 2023)

Bayer Intellectual Property GMBH and Others v New Clicks South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Others (7 June 2023) (2022/8099; 06238/2007) [2023] ZACCP 1; 2023 BIP 1 (COP) (7 June 2023)

The court found that the application was urgent due to the ongoing infringement of Bayer's patent by the first respondent, which undermined the purpose of the interim interdict previously granted against Dr Reddy's Laboratories. The applicants established a prima facie right to protection of their patent, as the...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2023] ZACCP 1
Parties
Applicant: Bayer Intellectual Property GMBH; Applicant: Bayer AG; Applicant: Bayer (Pty) Ltd; Respondent: New Clicks South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Respondent: Alpha Pharm (Pty) Ltd; Respondent: Dis-Chem Pharmacies (Pty) Ltd
Court
Court of the Commissioner of Patents
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Case Number
2022/8099; 06238/2007
Procedural Posture
Urgent Application / Interim Interdict Pending Final Determination of Patent Infringement Action
Outcome
Application granted in part: urgent enrollment ordered, joinder of Clicks Retailers (Pty) Ltd refused, interim interdict granted against first respondent, costs awarded to applicants.
Judges
Collis
Legal Topics
Patent Infringement, Interim Interdict, Joinder of Parties, Balance of Convenience, Irreparable Harm, Constitutional Challenge
Intellectual Property Civil Procedure Patent Infringement Interim Interdict Joinder of Parties Balance of Convenience Irreparable Harm Constitutional Challenge

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Bayer Intellectual Property GMBH

Applicant

Bayer AG

Applicant

Bayer (Pty) Ltd

Applicant

New Clicks South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Respondent

Alpha Pharm (Pty) Ltd

Respondent

Dis-Chem Pharmacies (Pty) Ltd

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Urgent Application / Interim Interdict Pending Final Determination of Patent Infringement Action

  1. 1 Whether the application for interim interdict against the first respondent is urgent.
  2. 2 Whether the joinder of Clicks Retailers (Pty) Ltd as fourth respondent should be permitted.
  3. 3 Whether the requirements for an interim interdict have been satisfied, including prima facie right, irreparable harm, balance of convenience, and absence of alternative remedy.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the application was urgent due to the ongoing infringement of Bayer's patent by the first respondent, which undermined the purpose of the interim interdict previously granted against Dr Reddy's Laboratories. The applicants established a prima facie right to protection of their patent, as the first respondent did not substantiate its challenge to the patent's validity or the constitutionality of section 25 of the Patents Act. The court held that Bayer would suffer irreparable harm if the interim interdict was not granted, as damages or royalties would not adequately compensate for lost sales. The balance of convenience favoured the applicants, as the respondent failed...

Court Disposition

Application granted in part: urgent enrollment ordered, joinder of Clicks Retailers (Pty) Ltd refused, interim interdict granted against first respondent, costs awarded to applicants.

Orders

  • The application is enrolled as an urgent application in terms of Rule 6(12)(c) of the Uniform Rules of Court.
  • The joinder of Clicks Retailers (Pty) Ltd as fourth respondent is refused.