CGPDTM initiates measures to reduce backlogs at the Trademark Registry

January 13, 2015  20:45 IST

The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, on 13 January 2015, issued a notification inviting applications for the engagement of 100 examiners at the Trademark Registry on contract basis to reduce the number of backlog applications. As on date, at least 2,40,000 applications are awaiting first examination report from the registry. An average of 800 new trademark applications are getting filed every single day. With less than seventy examiners actively working at the registry, taking into account the trend of issuing examination reports in a month, it will take a minimum of two and half years to clear the current backlogs. Presently, a trademark applicant has to wait for 12 to 18 months to get issued with the first examination report. This interim arrangement is a welcome step from CGPDTM office considering the massive rise in trademark filings in India. But in the long run, the office should really think about increasing the number of permanent examiners to cope up with the current requirements.

Earlier last week, the CGPDTM office also initiated a special drive to dispose opposition and rectification matters wherein the opponent/rectification applicant or the trademark holder has requested withdrawal of their case. There is a bunch of opposition/rectification proceedings initiated at the office but withdrawn or settled among the parties in the due course. The CGPDTM has directed all the senior officers at the registry to exclusively work on disposing such cases during a period of two weeks starting 9 February 2015.

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