The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (hereinafter referred to as the 'Office'), aims to meet requirements of constantly changing IP landscape and aspires to strengthen the culture of transparency, accountability and efficiency in its management. It endeavors to establish a vibrant and balanced IP regime in the country to support the country's innovation and developmental objectives. The Office has undergone sweeping transformations due to various initiatives for easing of access to all stakeholders, augmenting efficiency in the processing of IP applications, accomplishing uniformity and consistency in the examination of application, strengthening transparency and dissemination of IP related information, nurturing bilateral co-operation at the international level and leveraging the level of IP awareness amongst the public.

With these responsibilities in mind, the Office on April 23, 2018, released its Annual Report for the year 2016-17. The details of the activities performed by various departments under the Office during the year 2016-17, as well as the revenue and expenditure details of all departments under the Office and other relevant statistics are also included in it. Some of the highlights are mentioned in detail below–

Patents

During this financial year, 45444 patent applications were filed exhibiting a slight dip of 3.2% in the filing as compared to the previous year. The trends of last five years in respect of patent applications filed, examined, granted and disposed are given below. Disposal of applications includes patents granted/ refused by the patent office and also applications withdrawn and abandoned by the applicants.

Further, during 2016-17, the number of patent applications examined increased by 72.2%, number of grant of patents increased by 55.3% and disposal of applications increased by 37.7%, as compared to 2015-16. Domestic filing of patents applications was 29.2% in 2016-17 as compared to 28% in the previous year, thereby showing 1.2% increase as compared to 2015-16.

Patent

Year

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

Filed

43674

42951

42763

46904

45444

Examined

12268

18615

22631

16851

28967

Granted

4126

4227

5978

6326

9847

Disposal

9027

11411

14316

21987

30271

Designs

During 2016-17, 10213 design applications were filed. The number of applications examined increased by 25.7% and number of design registrations increased by 3.1% in 2016- 17 as compared to 2015-16.

Design

Year

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

Filed

8337

8533

9327

11108

10213

Examined

6776

7281

7459

9426

11940

Registered

7252

7178

7147

7904

8276

Disposal

7300

7226

7218

8023

8332

Trademarks

In the past year, 278170 applications for trademark registration were filed at all five locations of Trade Marks Registry. The number of applications examined increased by 98.7%, whereas number of registrations of trademarks showed a phenomenal increase of 284.5%. Disposal of applications, which includes registered, refused, withdrawn and abandoned applications, increased by 150% as compared to 2015 -16.

Trademark

Year

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

Filed

194216

200005

210501

283060

278170

Examined

202385

203086

168026

267861

532230

Registered

44361

67876

41583

65045

250070

Disposal

69736

104756

83652

116167

290444

Geographical Indications

During the reporting year, 32 applications were filed, and 28 applications were examined. A total number of 34 Geographical Indications were registered. The trends in GI applications filed, examined and registered during the last five years are given below.

Geographical Indications

Year

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

Filed

24

75

47

17

32

Examined

30

42

60

200

28

Registered

21

For further information please contact at S.S Rana & Co. email: info@ssrana.in or call at (+91- 11 4012 3000). Our website can be accessed at www.ssrana.in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.