Initiatives taken by Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to speed up patent applications and eliminate pendency

Ministry of Commerce & Industry vide press release dated 16 December, 2022 has clarified the Initiatives taken by Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to expedite the process of patent applications and eliminate pendency that includes manpower augmentation from time to time, setting up of feedback mechanism and appropriate legislative amendments. These includes:

1. Modernization of the Intellectual property (IP) offices with steady switchover from manual to computerized system of processing of applications
2. Improved management of intellectual property (IP) related information
3. Creation of stronger public interface and revamping of the routine functioning of IP offices.

Further, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, officers have been provided with VPN access to avoid any delay in examination process. Also, to facilitate early disposal of applications, hearing of contested cases is done through videoconferencing, thereby removing the requirement of visiting the office by the applicant.