For The First Time In 11 Years, Indian Patent Office Registers More Indian Patents Than Foreign

India achieved a milestone in context of Intellectual Property (IP) innovation ecosystem, wherein for the first time in the last 11 years, the number of domestic patent filing has surpassed the number of international patent filing at Indian patent office in the Quarter Jan-Mar 2022.

• Of the total 19796 patent applications filed, 10706 were filed by Indian applicants against 9090 by non-Indian applicants. The coordinated effort by DPIIT (The coordinated efforts by) and IP office has led to increased IP awareness among all strata of society.

Some of the key initiatives taken by the Government over the years that has bolstered India’s IP regime includes:

• fee concessions like 10% rebate on online filing,

• 80% fee concession for Start-ups, Small Entities and educational institutions, and provisions on expedited examination for Startups and MSMEs along with other categories.

• The cornerstone laid down by National IPR policy and the efforts made by the Government has transpired into this achievement for India.

• India’s ranking in Global Innovation Index has increased to 46th in 2021 (+35 ranks) as compared to from 81st in 2015-16.

What is Patent?

• A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem.

• Patents are territorial rights. In general, the exclusive rights are only applicable in the country or region in which a patent has been filed and granted, in accordance with the law of that country or region.