RAMAN SINGH INAUGURATES MODERNISED DESIGN OFFICE MODERNISATION
OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SERVICES GETS UNDERWAY
Dr. Raman
Singh, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, has emphasised
the importance of modernisation of intellectual property administration
to face the challenges of economic liberlisation and globalisation.
While inaugurating the Modernised Design Office today in Kolkata,
Dr. Singh said that opening of this office would significantly
enhance the quality of the services like computerised database,
search facilities and grant of registration of design within shorter
time. Shri A.E.Ahmed, Joint Secretary, Department of Industrial
Policy & Promotion and Shri R.V.Patel, Controller General,
Patent Design & TradeMark were present on the occasion.
The Minister
informed that a part of the Patent Office in Kolkata has been
identified for the Design Office with all modern facilities with
infrastructure support and computerisation with networking facilities.
Work Manual for design is under preparation to ensure uniformity
in the procedure to be followed by different officers, he added.
Dr. Singh stated that the new Designs Act of 2000, which was operationalised
from 11th May 2001, has opened up registration for
designs to nationals of member countries of Paris Convention and
Indian Design Office now fully caters to an international intellectual
property community. He informed that the new legislation has resulted
in an increase in the number of applications filed, from 3227
in 2000-01 to 3350 in 2001-02.
Modernised
Patent Offices have already started functioning in Delhi and Chennai.
A modern Geographical Indications Registry has also been set up
in Chennai and work on the modernisation of patent offices and
trademarks registries in Kolkata and Mumbai is at an advanced
stage.
