India’s Remarkable Growth in Intellectual Property in 2023
In 2023, India achieved the fastest growth in patent applications among the top 20 countries, with a 15.7% increase, according to the World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2024 report. This marks the fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth for India, which now ranks sixth globally with 64,480 patent applications. Notably, over half of these applications (55.2%) were filed by residents, a first for the country.
The Indian patent office granted 149.4% more patents in 2023 compared to the previous year, highlighting the rapid development of India’s intellectual property (IP) ecosystem. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published the WIPI 2024 report, which shows significant growth in patent, trademark, and industrial design applications across major economies.
India has secured a place in the global top 10 for patents, trademarks, and industrial designs, solidifying its position as a leader in the IP landscape. The report notes a 36.4% rise in India’s industrial design applications, reflecting the country’s focus on product design, manufacturing, and creative industries. The top sectors for design filings were Textiles and Accessories, Tools and Machines, and Health and Cosmetics, accounting for nearly half of all submissions.
Between 2018 and 2023, patent and industrial design applications in India more than doubled, while trademark filings increased by 60%. India ranked fourth globally in trademark filings, with a 6.1% increase in 2023. Nearly 90% of these filings were by residents, with Health, Agriculture, and Clothing being the leading sectors. India’s trademark office holds the second-largest number of active registrations worldwide, with over 3.2 million trademarks in force.
Doubts Revealed
Patent -: A patent is a special right given to an inventor to make, use, or sell their invention for a certain number of years. It helps protect their idea from being copied by others.
Intellectual Property -: Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, like inventions, designs, and artistic works, that are legally protected so others can’t use them without permission.
Patent Applications -: A patent application is a request made to a government authority to grant a patent for an invention. It includes details about the invention and how it works.
Indian Patent Office -: The Indian Patent Office is a government agency in India that handles the process of granting patents to inventors. It ensures that inventions are new and useful before giving a patent.
Trademarks -: A trademark is a symbol, word, or phrase legally registered to represent a company or product. It helps people identify the source of goods or services.
Industrial Designs -: Industrial designs refer to the visual design of objects that are not purely utilitarian. It includes the shape, pattern, or color of a product that makes it look unique.