India Intends to Double the Workforce Responsible for Processing IP Applications

India's Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, has revealed intentions to double the workforce responsible for processing Intellectual Property (IP) applications, aiming to enhance efficiency and transparency in the process. “We are doubling the manpower in our IP ecosystem. We will have much more examiners and joint controllers so that we can give in a time bound manner all approvals,” Goyal said.

He indicated that patent filing has increased ten times and trademark application filing six times since 2016. To address the surging number of IP applications, the Indian Patent Office will recruit an extra 900 staff members.

Furthermore, Goyal proposed the digital transformation of the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks to optimize operations.

In addition, he suggested the initiation of criminal proceedings against individuals who submit unfounded pre-grant oppositions.