Patent application pendency numbers - (25 Apr 2016)

MANU/PIBU/0391/2016

Intellectual Property Rights

Patent Offices in four Indian metros released numbers on application pendency in the country. Awaiting examination and disposal are a total of 2,37,671 patents across all locations. The number marks a reduction from pendency in Jannuary 2016, which saw nearly 2.5 lakh applications pending.

It is notoriously difficult to predict with vanilla patent pendency figures where bottlenecks in the system lie. While administrative deficiencies and a steady bureaucracy may seem the obvious hurdles, patent processes can themselves propagate delay; issuing public notices and awaiting objections – which must be sorted out by hearing - are time-consuming facets of the regime too.

The figures are unlikely to assuage concerns about doing business in India. Whereas its recognition ad defence of intellectual property rights and steps strengthening the regime are positive lights on the ‘ease of doing business’, India’s copybook remains blotted by inadequate protection of intellectual property.

Relevant : India’s IPR travails MANU/PIBU/0390/2016

Tags : PATENTS APPLICATION PENDENCY INDIA