This post presents a detailed analysis of patent statistics in India with a focus on foreign applicants over the last decade. It examines the trends in convention and PCT national phase applications, highlighting the decline in filings for the year 2013-14 compared to previous years. The data identifies the major contributors and top countries filing patents, with the USA consistently leading. The post objectively outlines the shifts in patent filing patterns among residents and non-residents, offering a clear view of the evolving intellectual property landscape in India.
This report presents patent filing statistics for India with respect to foreign applicants, covering the decade from 2003-04 to 2013-14.
Applications Filed by Foreign Applicants
Convention Applications
The total number of applications filed claiming priority under the Paris Convention during the year 2013-14 was 3,704. This represents an 11.47% decrease from the previous year’s figure of 4,184.
PCT National Phase Applications
The majority of foreign applications are filed through the PCT National Phase route. The number of such applications filed during the year 2013-14 was 27,078, reflecting a 4.8% decrease compared with the previous year’s figure of 28,435.
Applications Filed by Residents and Non-Residents via Various Routes (2003–14)
APPLICATIONS FILED BY RESIDENTS AND NON RESIDENTS VIA VARIOUS ROUTES (2003-14)
Years
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Residents
3218
3630
4521
5314
6040
6161
7044
8321
8921
9911
10941
Non-Residents
Ordinary
1678
3165
1008
693
834
681
826
816
1031
1144
1228
Convention
–
–
3509
3969
4453
4264
2986
3728
4280
4184
3704
National Phase (under PCT)
7717
10671
15467
19768
23819
25706
23431
26544
28965
28435
27078
Grand Total
12613
17466
24505
29744
35146
36812
34287
39409
43197
43674
42951
PCT International Applications: Major Contributors (2013-14)
Major contributors towards PCT international applications during the year 2013-14 included the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Hetero Research Foundation, Hewlett-Packard Development Company LP, Reliance Industries Limited, Tata Consultancy Services Limited, and Cadila Healthcare Limited.
Top 10 Foreign Resident Applicants (2013-14)
Qualcomm Incorporated continued to top the list of foreign resident applicants. It was followed by Koninklijke Philips N.V., Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, and Robert Bosch GmbH.
Trend of PCT National Phase Filing
A slight decline in foreign applications through the national phase route has been observed since 2011-12.
Top Five Countries Filing via National Phase
2003-2004
USA
2939
Germany
867
France
441
UK
425
Japan
410
2004-2005
USA
4053
Germany
1292
France
671
Japan
626
Netherlands
520
2005-2006
USA
5874
Germany
1351
Japan
1060
France
822
Netherlands
817
2006-2007
USA
6955
Germany
1933
Japan
1409
Switzerland
1077
Netherlands
1073
2007-2008
USA
8606
Germany
2441
Japan
1806
Switzerland
1327
Netherlands
1293
2008-2009
USA
9013
Germany
2774
Japan
2259
Switzerland
1422
Netherlands
1524
2009-2010
USA
8087
Germany
2582
Japan
2386
Switzerland
1287
Netherlands
1281
2010-2011
USA
9084
Japan
3112
Germany
2991
France
1426
Switzerland
1335
2011-2012
USA
9137
Japan
3980
Germany
3405
Netherlands
1642
France
1418
2012-2013
USA
8754
Japan
4939
Germany
3364
France
1390
Switzerland
1380
2013-2014
USA
8534
Japan
4517
Germany
3065
Switzerland
1411
Netherlands
1347
Observations
The United States has been the clear leader in PCT national phase filings to India throughout the eleven-year period, maintaining a substantial lead over the second-ranked country in each year.
Japan has ranked second for the past four years of the period under review, with Germany at third place.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult a qualified attorney before acting on any matter discussed here.