India has made remarkable progress in intellectual property (IP) filings, securing 6th place globally for the first time in 2023, according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Global Patent Filing Report. This achievement reflects a robust growth of 15.7% in patent filings, marking the fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth in India. With more than 64,480 patents filed in 2023, India’s contributions are now among the top 10 nations globally across major IP rights, including patents, trademarks, and industrial designs.
Key Highlights
Record Growth in India: India recorded 64,480 patent filings in 2023, reflecting a 15.7% year-over-year increase. This was the largest growth rate among the top 20 patent-filing countries.
Global Patent Filing Surge: Globally, over 35 lakh patents were filed, with China leading at 1.64 million, followed by the USA, Japan, South Korea, and Germany. India stands sixth, ahead of Germany, with a consistent rise in patent activity.
India’s Top 10 IP Ranking: For the first time, India is included in the top 10 countries for patent, industrial design, and trademark applications. These areas saw dramatic increases, with patent and design filings more than doubling since 2018 and trademark applications up by 60%.
Asia Dominates Global Patent Activity
Asia continues to dominate the global patent landscape, accounting for nearly 69% of global filings. The major contributors—China, Japan, South Korea, and India—led the global growth surge in 2023.
Intellectual Property Rights Explained
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) safeguard creations of the mind, such as inventions, designs, and artistic works, which are legally protected to prevent unauthorized use. The primary forms of IP include patents (inventions), copyrights (artistic works), trademarks (company identifiers), industrial designs (aesthetic features of products), geographical indications (regional products with unique qualities), and trade secrets (confidential business information).
About WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation)
Establishment: Founded in 1967 as a UN agency.
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
Members: 197 countries.
Director General: Daren Tang.
Main Function: Promotes the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights globally, fostering innovation and creativity.
Summery of the News
| Why in News | Key Points |
|---|---|
| India’s Global Patent Filing Rank in 2023 | India ranked 6th in global patent filings for the first time in 2023. |
| Patent Filing Growth in India | India filed 64,480 patents in 2023, showing a 15.7% growth from 2022. |
| Global Patent Filing Total | Over 35 lakh patents were filed worldwide in 2023. |
| Top Countries in Patent Filings | 1. China: 1.64 million patents, 2. USA: 518,364, 3. Japan: 414,413, 4. South Korea: 287,954, 5. Germany: 133,053, 6. India: 64,480. |
| Global Patent Filing Growth | Global patent filings increased by 15.7% in 2023, the 4th consecutive year of positive growth. |
| Asia’s Share in Global IP Filings | Asia accounted for 68.7% of global patent filings, 66.7% of trademark filings, and 69% of industrial design filings in 2023. |
| India’s Growth in IP Rights | India also ranked in the top 10 for industrial designs and trademarks. |
| Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) | Includes patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial designs, geographical indications, and trade secrets. |
| Types of IPR: | Patents: Exclusive rights for inventions. Copyright: Literary and artistic works. Trademarks: Company identifiers. Industrial Designs: Aesthetic features of products. Geographical Indications: Origin-based goods. Trade Secrets: Confidential business info. |
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