Annual Report 2024–25 of the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks

• The Annual Report 2024–25 of the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has been released.
• The report highlights key trends shaping the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) landscape of India.

Key Highlights of India’s IPR Performance

• India’s total IP filings reached a record high, with IPR applications rising by about 20% year-on-year to nearly 7.5 lakh.
  • Trademarks formed the largest share of filings, with more than 5,50,000 applications submitted.
  • Patent applications crossed 1,10,000, reflecting strong growth in innovation activity.
• Indian residents accounted for over 61.9% of all patent filings, indicating a shift toward self-reliance in innovation and research and development (R&D).
• Filings related to designs, copyrights, and Geographical Indications (GIs) also recorded an increase.

About Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are legal rights granted to individuals over creations of the mind, providing exclusive rights for a specified period.
• The IPR Policy Management (IPRPM) framework in India covers eight types of IPR.
• These include patents, which protect inventions. The framework also includes trademarks, which protect brand identifiers.
• Industrial designs are protected to secure the aesthetic aspects of products.
• Copyrights safeguard original literary, artistic, and musical works.
• Geographical Indications (GIs) protect products linked to a specific geographical origin.
• Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Layout Designs protect chip design layouts.
• Trade secrets safeguard confidential business information.
• Plant varieties are protected to encourage innovation in agriculture.

Institutional Framework for IPR Administration

• Most IPRs are administered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM).
• The CGPDTM functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• DPIIT operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Certain IPRs, such as plant variety protection, are administered by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Steps Taken to Foster IP Activities in India

• The National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) aims to educate one million students about intellectual property.
• India has strengthened international collaboration by joining treaties such as the Locarno Agreement for industrial designs.
• India has also joined the Vienna Agreement for the classification of trademarks.
• Capacity-building initiatives include the SPRIHA Scheme, which integrates IPR education into higher learning institutions.
• The National IPR Policy, 2016, formulated under DPIIT, provides a comprehensive framework for IP creation, protection, and commercialization.
  • The policy is aligned with global best practices to enhance India’s innovation ecosystem.
• Digitization initiatives, such as the IP Saarthi chatbot, use artificial intelligence to assist applicants and stakeholders.