India 3rd largest patent applicant among developing nations

New Delhi, Jan 28 (PTI) India has emerged as the third
largest patent applicant among developing countries across the
world in 2008, but the country significantly lags behind its
neighbouring economy China, which has filed nearly eight times
more applications, a report says.

The latest World Intellectual Property Organisation
(WIPO) report shows that India filed about 766 patent
applications in 2008, whereas China has submitted 6,089
patents in the period under review.

The rise in patent applications in two of the fastest
growing economies of the world assumed significance amid the
global economic slowdown, that has impacted the international
patent filings considerably.

According to WIPO, the rate of international patent
filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in 2008 "was
modest". The International patent filing grew by a mere 2.4
percent in 2008, while on an average it registered 9.3 percent
growth rate in the previous three years.

Overall, the list was topped by the United States with as
many as 53,521 applications, followed by Japan with 28,744
patents, Germany (18,428), Republic of Korea (7,908) and
France (6,867).

Meanwhile among developing economies, the largest number
of applications came from the Republic of Korea with 7,908
followed by China and India.

Stressing on the importance of developing nations, WIPO
Director General Francis Gurry said, "in the coming years it
will be a priority for WIPO to work closely with its member
states to ensure that all countries are in a position to
actively participate in the benefits of innovation and the
knowledge economy and maximise their participation in the
PCT." PTI SKR
PMR
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