“Interesting Patents, Fan with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) based Control System, Pen patents, Clog Free Easy Drain Sink, Emergency Exits in Rail Coaches, Bose alleges patent infringement, Apple and Samsung end 7 year old long patent dispute, After EU, JPO Publishes New Guide for SEP Licensing Negotiations, Asia’s first patent arbitration centre to open in Japan, New Zealand IPO may hike patent fees by 50% and other Weekly Patent News,” presented by the Patent attorneys and experts of BananaIP Counsels, India’s leading Patent Firm.
Patent Quote of the Week
“Innovation without protection is Philanthropy.” – Mark Blaxill, Renowned Author
Indian Patent Statistics
A total of 874 patent applications have been published in the 26th issue of the patent journal. Out of the 874 applications, 52 applications account for early publications while 822 applications account for ordinary publications or publications occurring after the 18 month period. A total of 289 applications have been granted this week thus marking an increase of about 10.73% in comparison to the number of applications granted in the previous week.
Early Publications
| City | Previous Week | This Week | Percentage of change |
| Delhi | 35 | 4 | 88.57% decrease |
| Mumbai | 58 | 21 | 63.79% decrease |
| Chennai | 22 | 20 | 9.09% decrease |
| Kolkata | 12 | 7 | 41.67% decrease |
| Total | 127 | 52 | 59.06% decrease |
Ordinary Publications
| City | Previous Week | This Week | Percentage of change |
| Delhi | 471 | 255 | 45.86% decrease |
| Mumbai | 122 | 111 | 9.02% decrease |
| Chennai | 265 | 337 | 27.17% increase |
| Kolkata | 74 | 119 | 60.81% increase |
| Total | 932 | 822 | 11.8% decrease |
TOTAL PUBLICATIONS (Previous Week): 1059
TOTAL PUBLICATIONS (This Week): 874
Percentage difference: 17.47% decrease
First Examination Report (FER) Statistics
A total of 1825 FER’s have been issued last week. Applicants and their agents can check if any of their patent applications have been examined by referring to the journal available here.
| City | No. of FER Issued |
| Delhi | 583 |
| Mumbai | 272 |
| Chennai | 679 |
| Kolkata | 291 |
| Total | 1825 |
PUBLICATIONS UNDER GRANT
| City | Previous Week | This Week | Percentage of change |
| Delhi | 70 | 92 | 31.43% increase |
| Mumbai | 43 | 31 | 27.91% increase |
| Chennai | 91 | 106 | 16.48% increase |
| Kolkata | 57 | 60 | 5.26% increase |
| Total | 261 | 289 | 10.73% increase |
Number of Applications published based on applicant city
Of the total 874 patent applications published in the journal last week, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata have contributed a total of 104 applications. The total applications from each of the previously mentioned cities for the past week are as follows 27 applications from Delhi, 26 applications from Bangalore, 17 applications from Hyderabad, 15 applications from Mumbai, 14 applications from Chennai and 5 applications from Kolkata.
| List of Cities | 1st January 2018 – 29th June 2018 | 23rd June 2018 – 29th June 2018 |
| Delhi | 618 | 27 |
| Mumbai | 439 | 15 |
| Bangalore | 501 | 26 |
| Chennai | 308 | 14 |
| Hyderabad | 259 | 17 |
| Kolkata | 113 | 5 |
Total number of applications published by the Indian Patent Office from the 1st of January 2018 till date: 19575
- Early publications: 1821
- Ordinary Publications: 17754
Total number of patents granted by the Indian Patent Office from the 1st of January 2018 till date: 7069
- Delhi – 2669
- Mumbai – 822
- Chennai – 2192
- Kolkata – 1386
Indian Industrial Designs Statistics
The designs office has registered a total of 107 designs this week. The total designs registered from the 1st of January 2018 till date now adds to a total of 4782 applications.
Total designs registered in the previous Week: 119
Total designs registered this Week: 107
Percentage Difference: 10.08% decrease
Total designs registered from the 1st of January 2018 till date: 4782
Interesting Patents
This week’s patent journal is replete with way too many interesting patent application. We had to list down a few and we hope you enjoy them all.
Patent Application 1
Title: FAN WITH BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY (BLE) BASED CONTROL SYSTEM
Applicant: HAVELLS INDIA LIMITED
Application No.: 201611044263
Abstract: “The present invention provides a fan (100) with Bluetooth low energy (BLE) based control system to control on/off operation of the fan, also speed control of the fan by an application running on a hand held computing device and control on/off of LED under light. The present fan (100) has a fan microcontroller (13) and a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device module (4) mounted on the printed circuit board. The BLE device module (4) is communicatively coupled with the fan controller (13). The BLE device (4) receives control command from the hand held computing device and analyzes the received controlled commands. The BLE device module (4) transmits the received control command to the fan microcontroller (13) for controlling operations of the fan (100).” (The abstract text has been taken as is and has not been corrected for errors)
Patent Application 2
Title: IMPROVEMENTS IN WRITING INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS BALL PENS & THE LIKE
Applicant: SHINDE GOPAL BHAGAT
Application No.: 201721035456
Abstract: “The Invention: Writing Instruments, and, “Hold, or, Hold-&-Press, -and – Ready-to-use-&-WRITE” Constructions Mechanisms: comprises the Pen(l00) remaining in either of the TWO Positions, namely, either the position (100a), OR, the position (100b), wherein, in the position (100a), the pen is not “Hand-held”, &, the tip (1) is always “inside & within the body (13); and, in the position(100b) the pen is./in “Hand-held” position, wherein, there is always some grip, some pressures, some forces, applied & exerted by (hand-) fingers, wherein the characteristic construction of the pen allows /or/ forces the tip (1) to protrude-out & come-out of the body; and, person is able to write; wherein further, the pen comprises important Parts: the Body (13), Plunger (29) along-with a spring (28), Plunger-push-Mechanism (21).” (The abstract text has been taken as is and has not been corrected for errors)
Patent Application 3
Title: CLOG FREE EASY DRAIN SINK
Applicant: PRATIK RAJ
Application No.: 20161104457
Abstract: “A Clog Free Easy Drain Sink is a redesign of the existing kitchen sink. The existing sinks have a poor water filter mechanism and employ comparatively inefficient techniques because of which the user has to face difficulties cleaning it and this also gives a bad vision of dirt and clogged water besides being unhygienic too. The Clog Free Easy Drain Sink reduces the possibility of clogged waste inside the kitchen sink and also has a provision for collecting it and cleaning without having any direct hand contact characterized in that no filter is used in the sink area (3a) and the treatment is done further (3c) down the part attached to the sink itself (3b) which filters the water and stops the waste from flowing further down (3c). Water is sent further (3d) through joinery (3e). Also, the waste water that keeps on piling up after the clog no longer remains and retains inside the sink, thus no dirty water is visible to the user.” (The abstract text has been taken as is and has not been corrected for errors)
Patent Application 4
Title: EMERGENCY EXITS IN RAIL COACHES
Applicant: BAYYA SUBASH CHANDRA SEKHAR et al.
Application No.: 201641044217
Abstract: “An improved emergency exit system for a rail coach is disclosed. The emergency exit system is fixed beneath the rail coach with a suitable width to pass through the emergency exit. The upper portion of the emergency exit is connected with a plurality of emergency recesses. The emergency recesses are movable floor pockets in a pathway of rail coach with handles to pass through the exit and have a metallic slide doors inside each recess for safety of passengers moving through the path way. A movable auto locking lever control unit is arranged adjacent to the carriage wall to operate the control opening and closing the sliding hatch to pass through the ramp.” (The abstract text has been taken as is and has not been corrected for errors)
Patent Application 5
Title: BARCODE ANALYZER
Applicant: Mahindra & Mahindra Limited
Application No.: 201641018765
Abstract: “Methods and systems for scanning and analyzing codes. Embodiments herein provide a method and system for scanning and analyzing codes. The embodiments are configured to receive an input from an input device, based on at least one of logical groups, logical models, and a code number. The embodiments decode the received input post analyzing the input and perform an action based on the decoded input. The action includes one of turning on and turning off a relay. The embodiments can be programmed for enabling the code analyzer to perform the action based on the decoded input. The programming can be performed by creating at least one of the logical groups, and the logical models. The programming of the code analyzer can be performed using the input device.” (The abstract text has been taken as is and has not been corrected for errors)
Patent /Design Infringements, Disputes, Licensing and Settlements.
Bose alleges patent infringement
Bose, the world famous audio equipment manufacturer filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission (US ITC) in 2016 which has now triggered the ITC to launch an investigation against 14 companies, including US-based 1MORE, Sweden-based Sudio and Canada-based Smartomi (all of which make headphones). According to Bose’s complaint, the companies have infringed six of Bose’s patents by importing and selling earpieces. Bose requested that the ITC stop the companies from importing the products. Failing this, it requested a limited exclusion order or cease-and-desist orders.
An ITC administrative judge will decide whether or not the complaint is valid once the investigation is complete.
Apple and Samsung end 7 year old long patent dispute
Tech giants Apple and Samsung have agreed to settle a year old patent dispute on undisclosed terms. This is the case where Apple accused Samsung of copying the iPhone’s design and software features.
International Patent Updates
After EU, JPO Publishes New Guide for SEP Licensing Negotiations
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) has recently published its initial edition of the Guide to Licensing Negotiations Involving Standard Essential Patents. The guide is aimed at helping international and Japanese parties to arrange for equitable licensing of key technologies covered by Standard Essential Patents (SEP). With this guide, Japan has become one of the select few countries which have issued or published a guide with respect to Standard Essential Patents. EPO had issued a similar guide last year which has been hailed by many as a great document to refer to.
Asia’s first patent arbitration centre to open in Japan
Asia’s first arbitration centre specialized in intellectual property is scheduled to open in Tokyo, Japan later this year in September. The International Arbitration Centre in Tokyo (IACT) will apparently have a dozen arbitrators from around the world, who would try to resolve disputes within a period of one year. The IACT has indicated that it will also be able to handle disputes between non-Japanese companies, if both parties agree to the same.
New Zealand IPO may hike patent fees by 50%
The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) is considering increasing the patent examination fees by 50% in an effort to compensate the costs of delivering patent services. While it currently costs NZ $500 (US $345) for a patent to be examined or re-examined, the fee will increase to NZ $750 (US $515) should the proposal go through. The IPONZ has also suggested increasing the patent renewal fee from the current NZ $100 (US $70) to NZ $200 (US $140) for the patent’s fourth to ninth years of existence.
Author: BIP’s Patent Attorneys
Led by Senior Partners, Somashekar Ramakrishna, Nitin Nair and Vinita Radhakrishnan, BIP’s Patent Attorneys are among the leading patent practitioners in the country. They work with clients such as Mahindra and Mahindra, Samsung, HCL, Eureka Forbes, and Titan. They specialize in IT/Software, Electronics/Telecom, Mechanical, Automotive, and Bio/Pharma domains, and help clients with patent filing, prosecution, management and strategy in India, and across the world.
The weekly patent news initiative is a part of their pro bono work, and is aimed at spreading patent awareness. You are free to share the news with appropriate attribution and backlink to the source.
If you have any questions, you may write to BIP’s Patent Attorneys – [email protected].
