CONSUMER HEALTHCARE
People often think that IP in the healthcare sector is all about patents. But while GlaxoSmithKline certainly has a patent portfolio to protect, it also takes a strident approach to enforcing its trademarks and defending its brands. WIPR talks to Emma Stopford, GSK’s vice president for Consumer Healthcare Trademarks, about the company’s strategy.
In the UK, and in much of the rest of the world, GSK products are ubiquitous. And it’s not just patented pharmaceuticals you’re likely to have come across. British customers will be familiar with products as diverse as Lucozade sports health drink and Aquafresh toothpaste. In the US, stomach remedy Tums is a big seller, while malt powdered-drink Horlicks is India’s sixth- most trusted brand.
Managing and protecting the trademarks associated with these brands is Emma Stopford’s job. She manages a permanent team of three attorneys and seven paralegals, split between London and Philadelphia. Tey look aſter more than 25,000 trademarks for the consumer healthcare business.
Many are available over the counter (though some used to be prescription-only and others are
available on both tracks) such as analgesics and recently, the weight-loss drug, alli.
Stopford’s team is not just responsible for trademarks, but handles other ‘soſt IP’ issues too, such as copyright in R&D publications and licensing IP for adverts and the like, as well as providing support on corporate acquisitions.
Preventing infringement
“We come across all sort of infringement,” Stopford says. “We have a lot of anti-counterfeiting work in particular. Te team work closely with other members of the trademark department. A key hotspot is China, and we have couple of dedicated trademark people based there to help with this. Te Middle East is another big area, because of all the free ports in the Middle East, it’s easy for counterfeits to get into circulation.”
www.worldipreview.com
World Intellectual Property Review November/December 2010
19
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