It appears that 2012 is going to be a good year for Indian IP.
The very first announcement published on the IPO’s website this new year, is an impressive training syllabus for the newly appointed patent examiners. As blogged earlier, the IPO has appointed the first batch of 94 patent examiners last month, followed by another 8 appointments recently. All the newly appointed patent examiners have to undergo a three months residential training program at the National Institute for Intellectual Property Management (NIIPM) at Nagpur. (Image from here)The training syllabus for this three months program is available on the website over here and it appears to have been meticulously drafted. As per this syllabus, the training will be spread over 6 modules, which are as follows:
(i) Module 1 – Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights
(ii) Module 2 – Invention and Patentability
(iii) Module 3 – Examinations of Patent Applications
(iv) Module 4 – Oppositions, revocation and appeals
(v) Module 5 – Important proceedings related to patents
(vi) Module 6 – Administrative and Service Matters which includes a component on the Right to Information Act, 2005.
Each of the modules is explained in greater detail on the website. At the risk of repetition I have to say that the course curriculum for the three month program is extremely well balanced, covering the subjects of ‘general IP’, patent drafting, patent examination, oppositions, revocations, administrative, constitutional law, basic principles of natural justice and the Right to Information Act, 2005. The training also seems to focus on practical skills such as the use of electronic databases to conduct prior art searches, search strategies and several case-studies on each of the theoretical components. At the risk of sounding terrible geeky, the 3 month training course at NIIPM sounds extremely exciting and I hope the new appointees enjoy their training.
I think it is not a news thing that the new appointees in any organization are being given training for the post that they are appointed for. May be it is a new thing for you or may be that the IPO had not given any training earlier or though given earlier but not announced any syllabus which has prompted you to write this blog.
Syllabus is good .But i cannot comprehend the purpose of teaching “claim drafting” to Examiners.
More than the syllabus the trainer matters. Good syllabus will not serve the purpose without good teachers.
@anon 4:54
what are the virtues of good trainers?
if IPO wants quality of patent should granted in time bound manner they will have to have give ex-poser of all newly recruited examiners for current practices and training in abroad in batch wise at reputed patent office. Merely hyping syllabus nothing is going to happen, until unless there should have a seasons and buff mentor.
While reading this blog I clicked to “Links to this post” and read the blog of Shamnad dated 6th July, 2008 under the title “Everything under the Indian Sun is Patentable: A case of brainwashing?
I read that Even a judge of the Delhi high court has been taken to the USPTO for a short-term course. It was nice to know that. Would you please tell the name of the respectable Judge?
The latest news is that Mr. V. Ravi has already joined as Technical Member IPAB and is sitting to hear the matters in the circuit Bench sitting in Delhi High Court during January 9-13 with Vice Chairman S. Usha, as per the list appearing on the website of IPAB.
Dear Mr. Reddy.
The module looks impressive and seem to support the envisaged role of the Examiners. But what is the purpose of IPO in putting this internal training in public domain. They are not asking for suggestions to improve. Also if the intent is to create the image of an doing organization , then they may consider allowing access to the detailed content of the training pgm of specific modules. This will also interested make an judgment about the extent of examiners training and expectations from them will be more realistic.
R.K.Jain
Patent Agent
Mr. R.K.Jain has made a very valid point. I completely agree with him
Mr. R.K.Jain and Anon @10:07 AM, why this Kolaveri Di?