Indian Patent office launched Comprehensive e-filing facility

In an official function held on December 15, 2012, the Indian Patent office launches the facility of Comprehensive online filing. This newly launched facility by the Indian Patent office is a bold step towards a paperless virtual office in the future.

Though the Indian Patent office has first launched the e-filing services in the year 2007, such facility was limited only to filing of patent applications. However, the newly developed online facility has been integrated to file patent applications and other subsequent requests along with the prescribed fees through the electronic gateway. The service is aimed at simplifying the e-filing process and to eliminate transaction errors.

The launched on-line filing facility is a web based system which allows a dual way login through User Id or Digital signature. Now a user can comfortably own and manage personal folders in the Patent office environment. For this, the user simply needs a Digital signature and an internet banking account for e-filing.

According to the information revealed by the Patent office, there has been remarkable growth in the e-filing of application since the commencement of e-filing facility in the year 2007. Until the end of November 2012, it is estimated that about one-third of the patent applications filed in the Patent Office have been through the electronic means. Hence, the launch of the comprehensive e-filing facility is expected to enhance the confidence of applicants and patent attorneys and further augment the practice of filing patent applications through the electronic mode.