New Delhi (PTI): To expedite the processing of patent filings, the Patent Office has come up with new set of procedures including the creation of a separate section for the screening of applications.

The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks has issued a detailed Patent Office Procedures (POPs), which deals with the responsibilities of each individual office functionary.

As per POP details, there would now be separate sections for initial receipt and screening of the patent applications, record management and information dissemination, general patent matters, examination and grant of patents.

In addition, there would be another division for the weekly patent office journal.

The new procedures include ensuring quick digitisation of patent applications, including the amendments filed and making it available online for public access.

According to the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, P H Kurian, the objective of this procedure is to bring uniformity with the different patent offices as well as timely delivery of services.

"This procedure is prescribed with the objectives of bringing uniformity of practice in the Patent Office, effective utilisation of manpower as well as timely delivery of services assuring quality, transparency & accountability," Mr. Kurian said.

Industry body FICCI's Director General Amit Mitra said that the move would help speed the processing of patent applications.

"This effort would surely lead to enhancing the competence of our Industry, handing over of quality decisions in timely fashion leading to reduced rates of filing appeals and writ petitions," Mitra said.

The procedures also aim to catalyse the correction of errors and data verification at various levels before it is finally made available online for public access.

"This will help industry in getting access to correct information on each application filed," FICCI's IPR division Head Sheetal Chopra said.

Regarding the plan to speed up digitisation of patent applications, Chopra said it would ensure that the exhaustive electronic database is made available for online public access on time, thereby facilitating industry in taking informed business decisions.