Patent Filing Services
The Section 5 of the Patents Act, 1970, through which the patent was restricted only to the methods or processes of manufacturing of medicines, has been omitted by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005. Consequently, the amended provisions of the Act allowed the product patent for medicines also. The said amendment was intended to make the provisions of the said Act in conformity with India’s obligations under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), and also to promote creativity and innovation in the country.
The Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has launched the comprehensive online patent filing system with effect from 15th December, 2012. In addition to the existing online filing of new applications, this system enables subsequent filing of the prescribed forms and other documents along with the prescribed fees for all the procedures. This system is more user friendly as this has been simplified and includes user manual, frequently asked questions, troubleshooting and dual way login facilities through user ID and digital signature.
The new system is likely to generate more number of applications through online filing route and to increase the efficiency and productivity in the Patent Office in terms of processing of applications.
Awareness and sensitization programmes on Patents are conducted by Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) either on its own or in collaboration with other organizations in the country, where, the officials of the Patent Office elaborate on the new online filing system. In addition, Public Relations Officers are available in each Patent Office location to provide necessary information on the new system to the interested public. The information is also available in the Official website of the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Dr. S. Jagathrakshakan in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
