Top 10 Successful Inventors: India Nowhere...

Dear Friends,

This is the list of Top 10 Inventors in terms of Number of Patent Applications filed by them:

1. Kia Silverbrook from Balmain, AU
Number of Patent applications: 1629

2. Lowell L. Wood, Jr. from Bellevue, WA, US
Number of Patent applications: 965

3. Roderick A. Hyde from Redmond, WA, US
Number of Patent applications: 857

4. Edward K.y. Jung from Bellevue, WA, US
Number of Patent applications: 612

5. Eric C. Leuthardt from St. Louis, MO, US
Number of Patent applications: 611

6. Clarence T. Tegreene from Bellevue, WA, US
Number of Patent applications: 578

7. Muriel Y. Ishikawa from Livermore, CA, US
Number of Patent applications: 549

8. Royce A. Levien from Lexington, MA, US
Number of Patent applications: 511

9. Robert W. Lord from Seattle, WA, US
Number of Patent applications: 507

10. Paul Lapstun from Balmain, AU
Number of Patent applications: 479

Now, from the given list of top 10 successful inventors all over the world it is evident that none of the inventors from India holds a position in the list, not even in the list of top 100 inventors, check out the link for the list of Top 100 inventors:
http://www.faqs.org/patents/invl/00000

It is a matter of great concern; despite huge investments on infrasturcture and R&D facilities in India, what are the reasons being India lagging in the race. Is it beacuse of our strict Patent regime or unawareness about the IP issues? Kindly share your views, what can be the possible reasons for this failure according to you?

Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks Resigns

Transperancy in IPO is now at stake as The Controller Mr. P.H. Kurian makes a sudden exit. Its a shocking and surprising news for all of the IP Professionals as Mr. Kurian still had many more months left in his tenure.
Mr. Kurien had incorporated many new initiatives to bring transperancy in the working of Indian Patent office. Some of these initiatives are mentioned as follows:
1. Upgraded the technology used in operations of IPO
2. Reconstuction of 4404 missing trademark files etc.
People involved in the IP industry are now wondering that what will happen to these initiatives, whether they will be carry forwarded by the new Controller General or not?
Lets be hopeful and wish Mr. Kurien success in his future endeavors on behalf of all the members of Gen X Ideas on IP.

IBM owns maximum US patents in 2010

IBM Corp. topped the list of U.S. patent winners in 2010 for the 18th year in a row, IBM inventors were granted 5,896 patents during the year 2010, followed by Samsung Electronics Co., with 4,551 patents.

List of top 10 Companies with maximum 
U.S. patents awarded in the year 2010:

1. IBM Corp. (5,896)
2. Samsung Electronics Co. (4,551)
3. Microsoft Corp. (3,094)
4. Canon Inc. (2,552)
5. Panasonic Corp. (2,482)
6. Toshiba Corp. (2,246)
7. Sony Corp. (2,150)
8. Intel Corp. (1,653)
9. LG Electronics (1,490)
10. Hewlett-Packard Co. (1,480)

IBM's patents were generated in 2010 by more than 7,000 inventors in 46 states and 29countries working under an annual budget of about $6 billion.

Among the patents IBM won in 2010 were those for:
- A method for gathering, analyzing and processing patient information from multiple data sources to provide more effective diagnoses of medical conditions
- A system for predicting traffic conditions based on information exchanged over short-range wireless communications
- A technique that analyzes data from sensors in computer hard drives to enable faster emergency response in the event of earthquakes and other disasters
- Technology that lets computer chips to communicate using pulses of light instead of electrical signals, which could help computers work faster.

http://www.statesman.com/business/ibm-holds-on-to-title-for-winning-patents-1176826.html

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9KLLGRO2.htm

IP: Innovative Tool for Gaining Publicity

Every now and then we get to know that upcoming movie has been a case of IP controversy. I always wonder, why the launch of the new movie is never delayed or obstructed because of this. All of them release well on time and most of the times get huge success, as it is evident in case of 3 Idiots and Dabang. Now, recently Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s, Hritik and Aishwarya starrer “Guzarish” has come into picture for infringing the Copyrights of Dayanand Raajans, whose novel’s theme and characters are supposed to be lifted for the movie. Just before the release or on the release of a movie such controversies pop up and we keep on following the news that what will happen now? But, after few days for almost all the cases there is never an interesting conclusion, they simply opt for out of court settlement (Zandu balm Case against Arbaz Khan). In this case it has been reported that the sales of Zandu Balm got a reasonably good hike after this controversy, which they can never achieve through traditional marketing strategies and the movie “Dabang” plus the song “Munni Badnam” got a good popularity as well.

I get puzzled sometimes that all these disputes are fashioned just for publicity or people are really concerned for protecting their Intellectual Property. Whatever the reason may be, keeping aside the publicity stunts, I am delighted because it is creating awareness about the IP issues amongst the common man. Thanks to media that despite highlighting all the time “Breaking News on Rakhi Sawant”, they sometimes bring these critical issues into notice and people are now becoming more educated on how to protect their intellectual assets.

Managing Ownership Issues of IP Assets

Dear Friends,
As we all are working in different domains of the IP Industry. We should be aware of the ownership issues that may pop us in front of us. I found this presentation relevant and worth sharing with you all. I hope you will like it. Please follow the link enclosed with the title.

Off shoring IP Services: India to be the first choice...

Outsourcing is now a days serving as a cost saving and effective strategy to almost all the industries being it Call Centre Industry, Legal Service Industry, Research and Analysis Industry, Health care, Banking and Financial Industry, Software and IT Industry, Data and Document Management Industry.
The recent studies reveals that as compared to other industries Legal Service Industry has gained a very high momentum. Amongst legal outsourcing, IP has gained utmost attention. India has always been valued for the talent pool and now being recognized by the Developed Countries as the hub for rendering IP and research services.
Trends reveal that total revenue generation from patent off shoring industry were about $ 46 million dollars for the year 2007 and is expected to reach to a level of $ 206 million by the year 2012. This data shows a multi folds rise in the revenue generation. This concept is considered to be at a very rudimentary stage in India and is only 3-4 years old. By end of the year 2007, there were only around 50 companies providing these services with the head count of around 1,550. The Indian IP off shoring industry is expected to rise by 35% for the next 4 years.
There is a huge potential for Indian investors to develop such capabilities and capture the market from all over the world, subsequently India can rise as a "Superpower" in the field of IP. Also, there are immense opportunities for the IP professionals like us to flourish.

Patent Office vs Judicial System

There is a growing discordant between the patent office, which wants to nurture innovation, and the judiciary, which is keen to protect the interest of people who can't afford expensive medicines. It is not the only reason but the speed in which patent office had granted 40,000 patents in the last three years. The staff in the patent offices remain the same as it was in 2005 but the grant of patents has increased 8 times. The question on everyone's mind is: but how? How-come the patent office's slog over-styled strategy has become so fast over the years.

The reason being the task pursued by the patent office to promote the innovation ecosystem in the country. But it stands in stark contrast to the judicial system viewpoint which considers the cost of medicine to the masses first.

The net result: the cutting edge of innovation is often blunted in the process of patenting, and researchers stand to lose the most. But, I believe the evolving patent system and awareness about Intellectual Property Rights would definitely help in building the desired understanding and harmony between the two in the time to come.

Anil Hooda- Technology Associate

Skyquest Technology Group

anil.hooda@skyquestt.com