The PCT system facilitates applications for patents in multiple countries through a single application in a single language and assists in the search for novelty or prior art and does not itself grant patents.
According to annual statistics released by WIPO, which administers the PCT system India’s share of PCT applications dropped to 648 PCT applications in 2005 compared to 723 in 2004 and 764 in 2003. This is in contrast to 20% increase in international patent applications filed by developing countries as a whole and a 9.4% increase in the applications filed by all member states of the PTC.
During 2005 more than 1.34 lakh PCT applications were filed.
The five top user of the PCT system are U.S., Japan, Germany, France and the U.K. China dislodged Canada, Italy and Australia to take the position of the tenth largest user. East Asia namely Japan, South Korea and China again for the second year running clinched the most impressive rate of growth in the number of PCT applications filed. Between themselves they accounted for 24.1% of all international applications.
Among the top ten users of the PCT system in terms of individual applicants from developing countries, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Ranbaxy Laboratories both from India occupy prominent positions.
The three fields of technology (in terms of International Patent Classification) in which the largest number of applications were filed were preparations for medical, dental or toilet purposes, electric digital data processing and transmission.
© Lex Orbis 2006
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