DIPP enlists steps taken to improve India's IPR regime

The government today said it has taken several steps to increase efficiency in processing of intellectual property applications, bring transparency and dissemination of information to improve the IPR regime.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Planning (DIPP), under the Commerce and industry Ministry, said it has taken measures such as creation of additional posts to reduce manpower shortage and providing fee concession for MSMEs to encourage them to innovate.

"Several measures have been taken to ensure continuous and unending improvement of the Indian IP ecosystem in the country. To this effect, the DIPP has formulated a multi-pronged strategy to develop an Intellectual Property regime (IPR) in the country to promote creativity and to develop the culture of respect for innovations and creativity," the ministry said in a statement.

During the year, the IP office has been transformed to enhance efficiency in processing of applications, uniformity and consistency in the examination of applications, bilateral cooperation at the international level, and raising the awareness level of the public, it said.

To modernise the administration, an additional 1,033 posts have been created -- 666 posts for patents and designs and 367 for trademarks and GI (geographical indicators) at various levels.

Recruitment is underway and patent and trademarks examiners are being taken on contract to deal with the backlog, it said adding that to cater to the immense flow of the papers filed, a single central server at IPO Delhi has been put in place.

It also said online e-filing facilities for patent and trademark application were introduced and e-filers are allowed to use debit and credit cards and internet banking to pay fees.

"This year, e-filers were given the facility of using debit cards, credit cards and internet banking of over 70 banks for making payment of fees for all forms," it said adding "10 per cent rebate on online filing of applications and documents has been introduced".

Due to these steps, online filing has jumped from under 30 per cent to over 80 per cent in just a year, it said.

To increase transparency and dissemination of information, the real time status of IP applications and e-registers is now open to the public MSMEs

To encourage for innovation and seek protection for their inventions, a 50 per cent fee reduction has been provided.