Patents office expects 23% increase in applications

KOLKATA: In view of the product patent regime, the Indian Patent Office expects to receive some 30,000 patent applications in 2006-07, a growth of nearly 23% over last year. The four patent offices across Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai received around 15,000 patent applications in the first six months of this fiscal.

While the pharma and chemical industry accounted for nearly 50% of total applications, next in line is the IT and electronics industry at 20%. The balance 30% is contributed by various sectors such as mechanical engineering, food and agro-based.

The Indian Patent Office had received some 24,500 patent applications last fiscal. “Of this year’s anticipated applications, the Delhi office is expected to lead with 12,000 filings followed by Chennai at 7,000 filings. The Kolkata Patent Office is at third with 6000 applications and then Mumbai with 5,000 applications,” said Amitava Chakraborty, assistant controller (patents & design), Kolkata Patent Office.

A senior officer of the Indian Patent Office further said the Centre has already invested close to Rs 130 crore towards modernisation of the four patent offices. “Bulk has been invested in creation of new infrastructure, computerisation, development of database and training programme of the officials. A second round of investment may follow and a provision of which is being made in the Eleventh Five Year Plan,” he said.

The Indian Patent Office is also creating an updated online database from the calendar 1911 till now. “This will include some 2 lakh documents with detailed information on technologies which have already received patent,” the officer said. A move is also made to reduce the time period for examination of the huge pile of pending patent applications.