P. H. Kurain , controller general of patents, trademarks and designs at India’s Intellectual Property ( IP ) Office has resigned from the post with more than half of the term remianing. He was the first IAS officer to handle the post at patent office.
Since his posting in 2009 , he has introduced new reforms at the patent office-
1. More transparent system in patent and trademark filing
2. Digitalization of patent and trademark procedure
3. Public search of patent applications
4. Right to information ( RTI )
5. List of Pharma patents avialiable to public.
6. Recently , indian patent office conducted exam for patent examiners.
Earlier patent offices was prone to controversies like opaque system of filing , favourtism , corruption etc. Under his control , patent office was working in better conditions especially after Indian has signed WTO – TRIPS in 2005 .
His sudden exit has surprised IP professionals from drug industry.
We can just hope government finds a good replacement for him!
