Question : PROTEST AGAINST PATENTS



(a) whether the Department has opposed 4 more international patents in the field of space;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps initiated by ISRO to keep abreast of the new patents being filed by the international organisations?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SPACE (SMT. VASUNDHARA RAJE):

(a),(b) & (c) A statement is laid on the table of the Lok Sabha.

STATEMENT LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b) & (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.258 REGARDING `PROTEST AGAINST PATENTS` BY SHRI PRAKASH MANI TRIPATHI FOR ANSWER ON AUGUST 09, 2000.

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) The patent applications opposed by DOS/ISRO relate to areas in satellite communication system. All the four applications were filed by companies and persons based in USA. ISRO opposed these applications on the grounds of obviousness and lack of novelty/originality.

(c) A close watch on patent applications being filed in India is being maintained through a regular scrutiny of the `Patents for opposition`, being published in the official gazette and in journals such as Intellectual Property Rights, brought out by Patent Facilitating Cell of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).