New Delhi: In yet another significant push towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat, benefits related to 80% reduced fee for patent filing and prosecution have been extended to educational institutions as well. The Centre has notified the amendments to the Patents Rules in this regard, said an official release.
Recognising the importance of nurturing innovation and creativity in a knowledge economy, India is taking great strides in strengthening its intellectual property ecosystem in recent years. To create a conducive environment for innovation, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has been working towards promoting greater collaboration between industry and academia. This can be achieved by facilitating commercialisation of research undertaken in educational institutions.
These institutions engage in many research activities, where professors/teachers and students generate several new technologies, which need to be patented for facilitating commercialisation of the same. High patenting fees present a restrictive element for getting these technologies patented and thus work as a disincentive for the development of new technologies.
At the time of applying for patents, the innovators have to apply for these patents in the name of the institutions, which have to pay fees for large applicants. The high fee is a disincentive. To encourage greater participation of the educations institutions, who play a pivotal role in the country’s innovation, official fees payable by them in respect of various acts under the Patents Rules, 2003, have been reduced by way of the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021.
Moreover, Patents Rules have been amended in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020 to remove procedural inconsistencies and unnecessary steps in the processing of applications thereby speedup grant/registration and final disposal. By amending the rules, the procedures are made more compact, time-bound, user- friendly and compatible for e-transactions.
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