The Inventor’s Race: How to Accelerate the Patent Process in India
In India, getting a patent can make or break a business or innovator. The usual process drags on for years, which doesn’t work in today’s fast, cutthroat market. Fortunately, the Indian Patent Office (IPO) has ways to speed things up, helping protect and profit from inventions faster. This article explains the best ways to fast-track patent grants, who can use them, and practical tips, including how Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications can move quickly in India. Normally, a patent application goes through filing , publication (usually after 18 months), examination (which must be requested within 31 months from the priority or filing date for applications filed on or after March 15, 2024, or 48 months for older ones), and then a grant if everything checks out. This can take 3-5 years because of backlogs. Fast-track options can cut this down to months. Expedited examination, under Rule 24C of the Patents Rules, 2003 (as amended), gets the Fir...