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The key body for administering the IP regime in India is the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry. Other key agencies such as the Department of Science and
Technology, the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Ministries of
Agriculture and of Environment are closely involved in the development of
India’s IP policy and administration. The table below depicts the structure of
various bodies and their role in IP administration.
The Patent Office
The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Design and Trade Marks is a
subordinate office under the department of Industry. This Office has the
statutory responsibility for administration of patents, trade marks and
industrial designs and serves as a main source of policy advice to the
Government of India on Industrial Property matters. The Controller General of
Patents, Design and Trade Marks is the administrative and statutory head of the
Patent Office and the Trade Marks Registry. Presently, the Patent Office is
developing a database and digitizing all published specifications, granted
patents and unabandoned and unpublished applications.
Trademark and Designs
Registration
The renewal of trademarks certificates is being done instantaneously in clear
cases, but online registration of trademark applications in all the regional
offices and head office has already started from October, 2002.
Copyright Office
The Copyright Office is in the Ministry of Human Resrouce Development, which
provides policy advice to the Government with respect to copyright and
neighbouring rights. The Copyright Office was established in January 1958 under
the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1957. It is locted in New Delhi and
administers a system of voluntary registration of copyrights under the Copyright
Act, 1957.
Recently, steps have been undertaken to modernize and computerize the Copyright
Office with a view to streamlining its functiong and providing speedier
registration. Also the WIPO-Newt project is being implemented in Copyright
Office with the assistance of WIPO, which will put the Copyright Office on a
direct network with WIPO.
Geographical Indications Registry
The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 is
administered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who
is the Registrar of geographical indications (GIs) also. The geographical
indications registry is located at Chennai.
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