The assertion by Novartis that India's patent legislation will hamper long-term medical research and development is typical of the industry's smoke and mirrors approach to patent law...The global patent system as it currently stands encourages companies like Novartis to invest huge amounts of time and money in pursuing legal loopholes to extend the lifespan of patents...this...comes at the expense of their own development of new and genuinely innovative medicines...The decision by the Chennai High Court takes a stand against this approach, with new patents granted only for drugs that are genuinely innovative...At the same time, the system defends India's sovereign right to protect public health through the production of generic drugs, making affordable, life-saving medicines available to millions of people.