FICCI also held meetings with industries and law firms to put forth their concerns related to prosecution of patent applications at the IPO. The patent office has assured that it will look into the concerns raised in the meeting and take measures to eliminate problems which applicants face.
DIPP has taken note of FICCI's recommendations and it has been decided to digitize all the patents granted till date and open it for online public access. DIPP has assured that the task of digitizing the patent database has been put on fast track and is likely to be completed by December 2008 and would be available for online public access by January 2009. Nodal officers have been appointed for ensuring that the work is completed as per the deadlines.
Mr SK Roy Asstt. Controller of Patents & Designs, Patent Office, Delhi has been appointed as the All India Nodal Officer for digitization of patent records while the Patent Office Delhi will be coordinated by Mr S.N. Sav, Assistant Controller of Patents & Designs, Patent Office, Mumbai by Ms. Namrata Shinde, Examiner of Patents & Designs, Patent Office, Chennai by Mr R. Devan, Assistant Controller of Patents & Designs and Patent Office, Kolkata by Mr D.K.Rahut, Assistant Controller of Patents & Designs.
The patent office has already started e-filing of patent and trademark applications through its website. It has been decided that several workshops will be organized to sensitize users about the new system.
Discussions are also on incentivize users who file patent applications through e-filing facility. Based on FICCI's recommendations the Patent office has already increased the number of payment gateways and certifying authorities for digital signatures for E-filing of patent applications to make the system more user friendly. FICCI has also sent recommendations on the functioning of the office of the Patent and Trademarks system in India to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce.
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry