According to a report issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization ("WIPO"), the number of patents granted in India increased by 50% between 2016 and 2017 – specifically, from 8,248 to 12,387.
Foreigners accounted for 31,621 of the 46,582 patent applications received in 2017, which is more than double the number of applications received from Indian applicants. Of the domestic applications received, 15.7% were in the pharmaceutical industry. Notably, 10,675 patents were granted to foreign entities or individuals, while 1,712 went to parties based in India.
India has experienced a boom in the volume of patent applications in recent years: for example, the number of potentially pending applications received in 2016 was 2.4 times the number in 2010. Although India has been criticized in the past for failing to process pending applications, the introduction of the National Intellectual Property Rights Policy in 2016 simplified the procedure for granting intellectual property rights and may partially explain the large increase in patent numbers.
By way of comparison, the WIPO estimates that over 1.4 million patents were granted worldwide in 2017. While India ranks tenth on the list of countries by number of patents granted in 2017, the top spots are claimed by China, the United States and Japan.
Author: Larissa Fulop
Authors
Expertise
Insights
-
Intellectual Property
From Touchdowns to Trademarks: How NFL Star Travis Kelce is Growing his Brand
Travis Kelce, three-time Super Bowl champion and Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight-end, has reportedly filed multiple new trademark applications in Ohio according to records from the United States… -
Intellectual Property
A Bump in the Road: Caterpillar Ordered to Pay Wirtgen $12.9 Million in Patent Trial
The federal jury of a U.S. District Court in Delaware reportedly awarded Wirtgen America Inc. (“Wirtgen”) $12.9 million in damages for patent infringement related to road-construction technology.The… -
Intellectual Property
A Billion-Dollar Remix: U.S. Appeal Court Overturns $1 Billion Copyright Verdict
A U.S. appeal court reportedly found in favour of American telecommunications and internet service provider, Cox Communications (“Cox”), overturning a $1 billion jury verdict awarded to several record… -
Intellectual Property
From Foam to Fortune: Crocs Inc. Prevails in Patent Infringement Case
Crocs Inc. has been awarded over $6 million following a decision regarding patent infringement by USA Dawgs and its subsidiary Double Diamond Distribution. Crocs was embroiled in years of litigation… -
Intellectual Property
Dish and iFit Reach the Finish Line Settling Infringement Dispute
Dish Network and iFit have reportedly reached an agreement to settle their legal disputes over the use of Dish Network’s streaming-video technology in iFit’s exercise equipment. The dispute arose… -
Intellectual Property
General Motors Files Patent Application for Foldable Ramp for Pickup Trucks
General Motors (“GM”) has reportedly filed a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a foldable ramp designed for pickup trucks.The foldable ramp is designed to…