India to seek recognition for patent office

Rs 1,300-crore modernisation plan complete, patent offices now fully computerised.

India plans to approach the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) for recognition of its patent office as the International Search Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examination Authority (IPEA).

This would enable patent offices across the world to outsource patent search services to the Indian patent office, Ajay Dua, secretary, department of Industrial Policy and Promotion said.

Speaking to reporters on sidelines of a seminar, "India R&D 2006 - Mind to Market," Dua said Indian patent offices were equipped to handle international responsibilities.

The Rs 1,300-crore modernisation plan is complete and patent offices are now completely computerised. "The offices will be interlinked by March 2007 to facilitate easy search of patent database," Dua said.

"Once the linkage of patent offices is complete, we will approach WIPO," he added.

Speaking at the seminar, Jon W Dudas, US under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office said the power of IP was so immense that it generated around $ 5.5 trillion for the US economy.

Eighty per cent of the US economic growth was driven by intellectual assets and 20 per cent by hard assets, he said.

He underlined the importance of educating businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, about the IPR regime.

India R&D 2006 was organised by the ministry of Science and Technology and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.