INDIA RANKS
3rd AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN PCT APPLICATION FILINGS
WIPO
SYMPOSIUM ON PATENT COOPERATION TREATY BEGINS
India was ranked
3rd among the developing countries in terms of PCT
application filings during the first half of the current year.
More than 800 applications have been filed by nationals or residents
of India since the coming into force of the Patent Cooperation
Treaty (PCT). This was informed in the inaugural session of the
two-day WIPO Sub-Regional Symposium on the benefits of the PCT
for developing and least developed countries here today. Shri
V.K. Malhotra, Additional Secretary, Department of Industrial
Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry,
in his inaugural address said that there was an imperative need
for continuous awareness building in the Asian region for understanding
the benefits of the PCT system and also towards establishment
of a strong intellectual property resource base. Mr. Wang Zhengfa,
Director, Developing Countries (PCT) Division, World Intellectual
Property Organisation (WIPO) was present on the occasion along
with participants from 7 countries.
Shri Malhotra informed
that in less than four years since India signed the PCT, more
than 500 international applications designating other member countries
have been filed in Indian Patent Office and in more than 24000
patent applications (WIPO statistics up to August 2002) India
has been designated. Also, more than 12000 applications have already
been received by the Indian Patent Office in the National Phase,
he added. This was an indication of the fact that more and more
inventors from abroad have been using the PCT route to seek protection
for their inventions in India, Mr. Wang said. Shri Malhotra highlighted
the modernisation programme India has embarked on for the Intellectual
Property Offices and also the updating of appropriate legislative
framework.
The objective of
the symposium is to provide senior officials of Patent Offices
or relevant Government authorities dealing with policy making
in the patent field and in particular of PCT related matters,
a forum to understand the role and relevance of the patent system.
The themes to be discussed in this symposium are, the PCT in enhancing
international competitiveness of developing and least developed
countries in a knowledge based economy; overview of the PCT system;
benefits of the PCT system for the national economies; benefits
of the PCT systems for large, medium and small industries and
research & development institutes and also benefits of the
PCT system for Patent Offices of developing and least developed
countries. Delegates from 7 countries namely Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand are taking part
in this symposium, which is being organised by the DIPP in coordination
with WIPO and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce &
Industry (FICCI).
