Apple and Qualcomm settle all patent disputes, World IP Day events, BRICS IP heads meet in South Africa, Kerala Agricultural University to receive National IP Award 2019 and more

“Indian Patent Statistics, Indian Patent Grants, Interesting Inventions, First Examination Report (FER) Statistics, MNLU to organize a Faculty Development Program on IPR, on World IP Day, IPR Cell of Kerala Agricultural University to receive National IP Award, 2019, Apple and Qualcomm settle their differences with a six-year patent license agreement, 11th meeting of IP Heads of BRICS held in Cape Town, South Africa and other patent news updates” presented by the Patent attorneys and experts of BananaIP Counsels, India’s leading Patent Firm.

Quote of the Week

“Patents are like fertilizer. Applied wisely and sparingly, they can increase growth. But if you apply too many chemical or make your patents too strong, then you can bleach the land, making growth more difficult.” – Alex Tabrrok, a Canadian – American economist and Author.

Indian Patent Statistics

A total of 324 patent applications have been published in the 16th issue of the Patent Journal, 2019. Out of the 324 applications, 53 applications account for early publications while 271 applications account for ordinary publications or publications occurring after the 18 – month period. A total of 166 applications were granted last week thereby marking a decrease of about 49.69% in grants.

Early Publications

City Previous Week This Week Percentage of change
Delhi 3 7 133.33% increase
Mumbai 2 40 1900% increase
Chennai 4 6 50% increase
Kolkata 1
Total 10 53 250% increase

 Ordinary Publications

City Previous Week This Week Percentage of change
Delhi 261 175 32.95% decrease
Mumbai 55 30 45.45% decrease
Chennai 168 58 65.47% decrease
Kolkata 19 8 57.89% decrease
Total 503 271 46.12% decrease

TOTAL PUBLICATIONS (Previous Week): 513

TOTAL PUBLICATIONS (This Week): 324

Percentage difference: 36.84% decrease

First Examination Report (FER) Statistics

A total of 1059 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 406
Mumbai 144
Chennai 375
Kolkata 134
Total 1059

PUBLICATIONS UNDER GRANT

City Previous Week This Week Percentage of change
Delhi 123 41 66.66% decrease
Mumbai 50 29 42% decrease
Chennai 106 66 37.73% decrease
Kolkata 51 30 41.17% decrease
Total 330 166 49.69% decrease

 Number of Applications published based on applicant city

Of the total 324 patent applications published in the journal last week, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata have contributed a total of 32 applications. The total applications from each of the previously mentioned cities are as follows – 11 applications from Delhi, 3 applications from Mumbai, 3 applications from Bangalore, 11 applications from Chennai, 2 applications from Hyderabad and 4 applications from Kolkata.

List of Cities 1st January 2019 to 19th April 2019 12th April 2019 to 19th April 2019
Delhi 376 11
Mumbai 217 3
Bangalore 441 3
Chennai 376 11
Hyderabad 142 2
Kolkata 116 4

Total number of applications published by the Indian Patent Office from the 1st of January 2019 till date: 12889

  • Early publications: 1203
  • Ordinary Publications: 11686

Total number of patents granted by the Indian Patent Office from the 1st of January 2019 till date: 6161

  • Delhi – 2218
  • Mumbai – 874
  • Chennai – 2023
  • Kolkata – 1046

Indian Industrial Design Statistics

The designs office has registered a total of 119 designs this week. The total designs registered from the 1st of January 2019 till date now adds to a total of 4677 applications.

Total designs registered in the previous Week: 213

Total designs registered this Week: 119

Percentage Difference: 44.13% decrease

Total designs registered from the 1st of January 2019 till date: 4677

Interesting Invention of the Week

AN ECOFRIENDLY INCINERATOR TO DISPOSE OF THE USED SANITARY NAPKINS AND BIO MEDICAL WASTE

Patent Application No.: 201821021430

Applicant: CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute; International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) and Vempati Venkata Sundereswar Rao

Abstract: An ecofriendly incinerator to dispose off the used sanitary napkins and bio medical waste comprising of an outer shell (1) with provision (3) for charging the material to be incinerated provided with an insulted lid(4) and another opening for the entry of the chimney(6) from the combustion chamber(2) and the bottom portion of the outer shell(1) is provided with perforated bottom cover(9) for the entry of the air required for combustion, while the combustion chamber houses the heaters(5 ) in the openings provided at its lower portion and having a grill (14) at its bottom to support the material during combustion and allow the combustion products to fall in to the tray (7) for disposal. The combustion chamber has perforations at upper portion for entry of secondary combustion air (20). An open bottom sheet metal envelop (21), having insulation (22) is positioned in between the outer shell (1) and combustion chamber.” (The abstract has been provided as is and has not been corrected for errors)

Indian Patent Updates

MNLU to organize a Faculty Development Program on IPR, on World IP Day

Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai will host a Faculty Development Program on Intellectual Property Rights and Academic Integrity on the occasion of World IP Day. The event, to be held on 26th April, 2019 aims to provide improved training and research, advance training capacity and utilization of IPR amongst the faculty. The program will help teachers to spread knowledge and in turn empower the youth. All faculty members of universities, research scholars and final year undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply to be a part of the event. Registrations close on the 23rd of April 2019. Click here for specific details.

IPR Cell of Kerala Agricultural University to receive National IP Award, 2019

Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has been recognized to receive the National IP Award, 2019. The award will be presented on 26th April at an event in New Delhi in order to celebrate World IP Day. The award is essentially constituted by the Intellectual Property Office of India under the Union Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The award is presented to persons and organizations for their contributions in the field of patents, trademarks and geographical indications. KAU has particularly been recognized for its contribution in facilitating GI registrations and promoting GI in India.

Patent / Design Infringements, Disputes, Licensing and Settlement

Apple and Qualcomm settle their differences with a six-year patent license agreement

Apple and Qualcomm on Tuesday, last week have agreed to settle their differences with a six year patent license agreement. In a joint statement, the companies added that they had reached a six-year license agreement and a multiyear deal for Qualcomm to supply Apple with modem chips in addition setting aside all pending litigation between the two giants across the world. The settlement between the two technology giants came just hours after both the sides presented their opening arguments in a trial. As per the new deal, Apple will make undisclosed payments to the chip maker.

International Patent Updates

11th meeting of IP Heads of BRICS held in Cape Town, South Africa

The 11th meeting of BRICS Heads of Intellectual Property Offices (BRICS HIPO) was held on the 15th and 16th of April in Cape Town, South Africa. IP BRICS witnessed the presence of IP Heads from all the BRICS group of nations. The Controller General of Patents, designs and Trademarks of India, Shri OP Gupta was also present at the meeting. Apart from these delegates, President Saule Tlevlessova from the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) attended the opening sessions as a non–voting party. At the meeting, issues such as – reducing costs for PCT Applications filed by Universities, WIPO Standards, expansion of language of the Madrid and Hague System were discussed. The delegates also agreed to continue to hold BRICS IP Examiner Training Seminars in order to promote cooperation between the countries. Discussions at the meeting also revolved around issues relating to IP Strategy, management of overstocked patent applications, strengthening of cooperation at international forums and much more.

Authored and compiled by Vibha Amarnath and Gaurav Mishra

About 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]

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