Patent stats, Industrial Designs, Startup schemes, Recent patent grants, Interesting Patents, IP Conferences and seminars, Snapchat and Facebook, Patent Suit Settlement, licensing, commercialization, Health patents – Antiviral Condoms, Patent Tips and more, presented by the Patent attorneys and experts of BananaIP Counsels, India’s Premier New Age IP Firm.
Quote of the week
“I make more mistakes than anyone else I know, and sooner or later, I patent most of them.” – Thomas A. Edison
Patents & Designs stats from the Indian Patents & Designs Office
In comparison to the previous week, activity at the patent offices seems to have increased considerably. This week, a total of 1,045 patent applications have been published, which marks a notable increase of about 22.9%. Activity at the Delhi Patent office however seems to have slowed down based on the fact that there has been a decrease of about 43.65% in the number of applications published by the Delhi Patent Office. 200 applications have been granted this week, which marks an enormous 160% increase in grants compared to the 77 patents, granted the previous week.
Early Publications
|
City |
Previous Week | This Week | Percentage of change |
|
Delhi |
14 | 0 | — |
| Mumbai | 15 | 18 |
20% increase |
|
Chennai |
17 | 32 | 88.23% increase |
| Kolkata | 0 | 20 |
— |
| Total | 46 | 70 |
52.17% increase |
ORDINARY PUBLICATIONS
|
City |
Previous Week | This Week | Percentage of change |
| Delhi | 449 | 253 |
43.65% decrease |
|
Mumbai |
156 | 173 | 10.89% increase |
| Chennai | 181 | 365 |
101.65% increase |
|
Kolkata |
18 | 184 | 922.22% increase |
| Total | 804 | 975 |
21.26% increase |
TOTAL PUBLICATIONS (Previous Week): 850
TOTAL PUBLICATIONS (This Week): 1045
Percentage difference: 22.94% increase
PUBLICATIONS UNDER GRANT
|
City |
Previous Week | This Week | Percentage of change |
| Delhi | 32 | 81 |
153.12% increase |
|
Mumbai |
9 | 23 |
155.55% increase |
|
Chennai |
25 | 55 |
120% increase |
|
Kolkata |
11 | 41 | 272.72% increase |
| Total | 77 | 200 |
159.74% increase |
Number of Applications published based on applicant city:
Mumbai retains its top position by contributing nearly 60% of the total number of applications published by a city amongst the major metro cities. This week Delhi has come up the charts and has secured the second position closely followed by Bangalore. Delhi however comes in at a modest third place behind Bangalore when considering total applications published so far since January 1st, 2017. Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata have contributed 10, 6 and 1 applications respectively this week.
|
List of Cities |
1st January 2017 – till date | 15th April – 21st April 2017 |
| Mumbai | 488 |
61 |
|
Delhi |
303 | 16 |
| Bangalore | 328 |
15 |
|
Chennai |
169 | 10 |
| Hyderabad | 126 |
6 |
|
Kolkata |
72 |
1 |
DESIGNS
Total designs registered this Week: 208
Total designs registered in the previous Week: 218
Percentage Difference: 4.58% decrease in total registrations
IP Office Updates
Applications invited by JPO for four training courses
The Japan Institute for Promoting Invention and Innovation (JIPII), and The Overseas Human Resources and Industry Development Association (HIDA) are inviting applications from suitable candidates for the following training programs being organized by the Japanese Patent Office:
- JPO/IPR Training Course for IP Trainers: June 13-27, 2017
- JPO/IPR Training Course for IP Protection Lawyers: July 19 – August 4, 2017
- JPO/IPR Training Course for Practitioners specializing in Patents: August 22 – September 7th, 2017
- JPO/IPR Training Course for Managing IP : December 11-20, 2017
The official notification and details on how to apply can be viewed by clicking here.
Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme period extended by 3 years
In a recent notification issued by the Controller General of Patent, Trademark and Design (CGPDTM), the Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme has been further extended for a period of 3 years with effect from 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2020. Applicants who are start-ups can make the best use of the scheme to protect their intellectual properties by approaching the facilitators who have been empanelled under the scheme. BananaIP Counsels houses patent attorneys who have been empanelled under the scheme and you may also approach them for any assistance related to patent searching, drafting or filing.
Recent patent grants
Amazon granted patent for on-demand clothing
Amazon Technologies, Inc., the technology division of the e-commerce giant Amazon was recently granted a patent by the USPTO for its invention titled “On demand apparel manufacturing”. The patent granted on April 18, 2017 has been issued a patent number 9623578 and discloses a system of on demand apparel manufacturing that includes a textile printer, textile cutter, and a computing device. The process includes collecting or aggregating orders for textile products from various client devices via a platform and the connected production system is triggered on-demand when a user places an order. The automated system could manufacture clothing and other textile products, such as towels, bedding, and curtains.
Interesting Patents
Amazon patents an underwater warehousing system
The USPTO recently published a patent with application no. 15/279,113 assigned to the American electronic commerce and cloud computing company Amazon, which discloses a system that involves placing the items inside a special cartridge equipped with a depth control device, and dropping them into water from the air. Further, during the time of delivery, a coded series of acoustic tones are beamed through the water that activates a device on the package to inflate a balloon from an attached cartridge of compressed air. The package then floats up to the surface for retrieval and shipping.
Nike gets first denim patent
The sportswear giant Nike recently received its first denim patent. The invention with application no. 13/767,505 titled “Architecturally reinforced denim” discloses a denim fabric with high tenacity and moisture management. The patent describes the denim as useful for extreme athletes, such as BMX riders and skateboarders who “require specialized gear that must be comfortable and protective,” but prefer “clothing and other gear that are fashionable and attractive.”
Conferences and Seminars
National IP Awards 2017
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the Government of India (Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is celebrating World IP Day by organizing a one day National IPR Conference on 26 April 2017 in New Delhi. The conference will be followed by distribution of National IP awards to organizations and people who have been found to be best achievers in the field of IPR in terms of creation and commercialization of IP.
World IP Forum from 26th to 28th April 2017
On behalf of the Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Forum, the Intellectual Professionals LLP is organizing a World IP Forum from 26th to 28th April 2017 at hotel ‘Shangri La, Bangalore’. The theme for the conference is ‘Harnessing the Power of Intellectual Property’. This three-day conference would focus on recent developments in Intellectual Property and its syncing with business objectives.
Government Updates
Published patents increased by 26% in India in 2013-2015
According to a recent report by Clarivate analytics, India has witnessed the highest growth of published patents during the years 2013-15. While the number of patent publications in China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia have steadily increased, there has been a downward trend in patent publications in Japan and South Korea. According to the report, the 26% increase in published patents is the highest amongst the analyzed countries. As per the report, computing, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, polymers and plastics are the top four sectors in which maximum number of patents have been filed. [1]
International Updates
USPTO forms a Working Group to improve Regulatory Reforms
Michelle Lee, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of USPTO has formed a Working Group to consider, review and recommend ways to streamline and improve laws and regulations governing intellectual property in the US. This group has been assembled following President Donald Trump’s executive order to formulate a Regulatory Reform Task Force. The priority of the Regulatory Reform is to identify and recommend modifications to outdated, unnecessary or ineffective intellectual property laws and procedures. The committee has a deadline to submit its first report by 25th May 2017.
Annual Report of World Publishing Statistics to be released by WIPO and International Publishers Association
The International Publishers Association (IPA) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have joined together to publish a statistical report of all publications done in the sphere of intellectual property across the world. This is a first of its kind report that will be released, encompassing data of over 189 WIPO member states and 70 countries that are part of the IPA network. The Report is scheduled to be released at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October this year.
Patent Suit Settlement
Apple settles patent dispute with Unwired Planet
Apple has finally settled a patent dispute with a Nevada-based software company called Unwired Planet, formerly known as Openwave Systems. The terms of the settlement have not been made public but reports have previously indicated that Unwired Planet had been seeking 33 million dollars in royalties.
Unwired Planet is the patent-holding remains of the mobile software company Openwave, which acquired several hundred US patents from Ericsson in early 2013, with Ericsson getting 20 percent of every patent settlements. Unwired has previously won cases against Samsung and Huawei and is also involved in ongoing disputes with Google and HTC.
Patent commercialization
Snapchat buys geofilter patent for 7.7 million dollars
Snap Inc recently acquired the “Geofilters” patent from Mobli – a photo-sharing platform, for 7.7 million dollars. This buy is being seen as a huge boost to Snapchat’s ability to garner revenues from geo-filters. Facebook was also in talks with Mobli and wanted the patent a “100 percent” but wasn’t able to complete the buy in time and snapchat ended up beating Facebook to clinch the deal.
Patent Licensing
WiLAN plans to go beyond patent licensing to ensure revenue flow
Ottawa based technology development and patent licensing company WiLAN has approved a plan to buy businesses developing products in the “internet of things” market to build a recurrent revenue flow.
In recent years, case laws and new regulations have made it more challenging for companies that don’t make products or provide services to earn predictable revenues from licensing or enforcing their patents alone. Hence, strategies such as those of WiLAN provide an ideal opportunity for companies to diversify and inject new growth into their businesses.
Casio and Microsoft complete new patent licensing deal
Microsoft recently completed a new patent licensing agreement with Casio, the Japan-based manufacturer, well-known for its calculators, digital cameras and digital watches. Under the patent licensing agreement Casio will use Microsoft’s technology and combine it with the company’s smartwatches and other wearable gear. While Casio does already have a portfolio of outdoor smartwatches that run on Android, it does not have a proper smartwatch to compete with the Apple Watch or other Android Wear models.
Health and Patents
World’s First Antiviral Condom introduced
Ansell, a global leader in protection solutions has introduced the world’s first antiviral condom. The first of its kind, the condom is called Dual Protect and features the patented lubricant VivaGel, developed by Starpharma. VivaGel is an innovative antiviral agent that has been proven in laboratory studies to inactivate HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), HSV (herpes simplex virus) and HPV (human papillomavirus). The condom is currently available for sale only in Canada.
Patent Litigation
Acacia sues Apple, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc using Nokia’s patent
Acacia Research, a company that holds Nokia’s patents has filed a law suit against Apple and several other major cell phone carriers including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. Cellular Communications Equipment, LLC, a unit of Acacia has alleged that the five industry giants infringe four patents of Acacia relating to basic cell phone technologies.
The four patents in the suit originated at Nokia, which has been sharing its patents through a practice known as “patent privateering” for several years now. Nokia has spread its patents around so widely, that they keep popping up in lawsuits ever so frequently. Acacia has already won a 22.1 million dollar verdict against Apple in September 2016 for infringing on a different patent.
BananaIP’s Patent Tip of the week
If you have an idea or an invention at hand, take care to keep the idea or invention a secret for as long as possible and until you have filed a patent application for the same. Ensure that you do not make the idea or invention public by way of publication of any kind before filing the patent application with the Patent Office. Publishing an idea or invention before filing a patent application for it negates the novelty of your patent / invention. Other similar situations exist which can negate the novelty of a patent such as public display of invention, public use or sale of the invention.
References
