In order to improve the long and tedious process of patent registration in India, the government has announced amendments in the existing patent laws and introduced new measures making the process faster and cheaper for individuals and companies. The government has opened a special window to process patent applications within 6 to 12 months as against the normal route which takes 5 to 7 years. It is similar to a ‘Tatkal’ window system, which will allow startups and companies to request fast examination of their patent applications, according to Mint. Expedited examination According to the notification by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the fast track option for ‘expedited examination’ will be available on the condition that applicants have chosen India as the competent International Search Authority (ISA) or International Preliminary Examining Authorities (IPEA) in the corresponding international application and thereby recognising India as the first destination for filing the patent application. There are 18 patent offices classified as ISA or IPEA in the world. According to Rajiv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, DIPP, this will reduce the number of patent applications which are first filed in other countries and later moved to India. “The move is aimed at popularising India as a patent filing hub so that more companies file applications in India. Now many applications for the initial examination are filed abroad, in places like Europe, the US or Japan,” Aggarwal said, according to the TechPortal. But the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks will only take up…
