What is the News?
The Union Government has introduced the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021.
What are the key features of Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021?
Patent Fees for Educational Institutions Reduced
Educational institutions engage in many research activities, where professors and teachers and students generate several new technologies which need to be patented for facilitating commercialization of the same.
However, high patenting fees present a restrictive element for getting these technologies patented and thus work as a disincentive for the development of new technologies.
Hence, the Government has now decided to reduce the patent filing and processing fees charged on educational institutions by 80% at par with similar concessions provided to startups under the Startup India initiative.
What are the steps taken by the Government to increase patents?
The time taken for examination of patents has come down from an average of 72 months in 2015 to 12-30 months at present, depending upon technology fields.
Scheme for Facilitating Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) has been launched with an aim to provide facilitators to startups for filing and processing of their applications. The professional charges of such facilitators are reimbursed as per provisions under the SIPP scheme.
Hearing of cases in Patents through Video-Conferencing for speedy and contact-less proceedings.
Encouraging the digital process for applying & granting patents.
The mechanism to lodge feedback/suggestions/complaints in respect of issues related to the functioning of the IP offices has been set up in the IPO website for the benefit of stakeholders.
Source: This post is based on the article ”Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021 Notified” published in PIB on 23rd September 2021.
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