Set up an authority for fast approval of patents: Assocham

NEW DELHI: Government should set up a National Intellectual Property Right Strategy Authority in order to expedite clearances of patent applications, industry body Assocham has said.

The chamber said it has recommended to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion to set up the authority in view of changing trade environment driven by global competition, innovation risks and rapid changes in technology.

The proposed authority should aim at aligning towards achieving a target of 50,000 patent applications filed in India by 2015 and 1,50,000 in 2020, it said.

Similar targets should also be set up for filing of design and trade mark applications, it added.

The intellectual property offices include patent, trademarks, designs and geographical indications.

According to the government estimates, about 42,000 patent applications were filed in 2011.

Assocham said the proposed authority should be functionally autonomous and financially independent. It should be made responsible and accountable to look into several existing policies, statutes and regulations.

"A review of such policies, statutes and regulations should be undertaken with a view to align them with the stated objectives of the National Intellectual Property Right ( IPR) strategy and to provide equal opportunities to all the players irrespective of their nationality," Assocham President Rajkumar Dhoot said.

Formulation, adoption and wide dissemination of objectives should be encouraged in all ministries, departments and bodies of the central and state government, business and cooperative sectors, he added.

Further, the chamber said that tax incentives should be extended to IPR procurement expenses as well.

Also, it said, the process for granting or registration of all types of IPRs including trademarks, design and patent should be made time-bound and efficient. This could be done by streamlining the procedure by which an application for IPR is processed.