Why is it in the news?
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has notified the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024.
- The rules aim to streamline and simplify the process of obtaining and managing patents in accordance with the Patents Act, 1970, and to fulfil the goals of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp initiative.
Some of the Key Provisions
- Introduction of ‘Certificate of Inventorship’: This new provision acknowledges the contribution of inventors in patented inventions, providing recognition for their work.
- Reduced Time Limit for Request for Examination: The time limit for filing a request for examination of a patent application has been reduced from 48 months to 31 months from the date of filing or priority date.
- Discount on Renewal Fee: A 10% reduction in renewal fees is provided if paid in advance through electronic mode for a period of at least 4 years, incentivizing timely renewal and electronic payment methods.
- Frequency of Filing Statements of Working: The frequency of filing statements of working of patents has been reduced from once in a financial year to once in every three financial years, reducing administrative burden.
Supporting Initiatives for Promoting Patents
- National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM): It aims to enhance awareness and understanding of intellectual property rights (IPR) among various stakeholders including inventors, entrepreneurs, students, and the general public.
- Patent Facilitation Programme: This initiative is designed to streamline the patenting process and provide support to inventors and innovators in securing patents for their inventions.
- Scheme for Pedagogy & Research in IPRs for Holistic Education and Academia (SPRIHA): It focuses on expanding knowledge capacity and skill-building in the field of intellectual property rights, particularly within educational institutions and academia.
- Establishment of Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Property: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has set up a Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Property to serve as a hub for expertise and knowledge dissemination in the field of intellectual property.
- Patent Analysis Management System (PAMS): It is an initiative under MeitY aimed at improving the analysis and management of patents in India.
| About Patents
· A patent is a statutory right granted by governments that provides exclusive rights to inventors over their inventions for a limited period, typically 20 years from the filing date. · The invention must be novel, involving an inventive step, and capable of industrial application. · It should not fall under the category of excluded subject matter, such as discoveries, scientific theories, mathematical methods, etc. · India’s involvement in international patent systems includes ratification of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), facilitating the filing of international patent applications. · The Indian patent office has been actively granting patents, with over 1 lakh patents granted between March 2023 and March 2024, indicating the growing interest and innovation in the country. |
