NEW DELHI - With the participation of notable Intellectual Property (IP) agents, practitioners and lawyers, a meeting was organized by the Indian Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks on August 22, 2007, to familiarize them with the newly launched e-filing system for trademark and patent applications in India.
Throughout the meeting, an overview of the new system has been provided and a number of issues have been discussed, including the challenges that may be encountered while filing online applications.
“With the introduction of this easy-to-use system, India joins the USA, Japan, South Korea, China and the European Patent Office in offering online filing for trademark and patent applications,” Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP) India Office Manager, Khalid Al-Khalidi, stated.
“Applicants are now able to file their patent and trademark applications from anywhere in the world at any time at their convenience through the Internet,” he added.
The e-filing system was launched last month by the Indian Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Kamal Nath, in order to make the filing of patent and trademark applications more smoothly and user-friendly.
Though this system is still in its infancy, it is likely that in the near future processing of the applications (examination, correspondence, opposition, hearing, registration, renewal and assignment, etc.) will be done electronically. This will provide transparent, error-free and round-the-clock services.
Presently, the Indian Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks is accepting new applications through e-filing; the subsequent filing (e.g. request for examination, recordal of assignment, etc.) are to be continued in physical form.
To ensure the security and authenticity of the documents filed, a person who is filing the application must have a digital signature. This requirement is in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Information Technology Act of 2000.
For more information, please visit: www.patentoffice.nic.in.