Fifth International Patent Drafting Competition (IPDC)

IPDC is a 5 year old Initiative of IIPRD, and its sister Law Firm Khurana & Khurana, Advocates and IP Attorneys (K&K) to bring about greater awareness and respect for Intellectual Property (IP) Issues, particularly for Patents, which have, over time, become more relevant to the Indian Ecosystem than ever. With rising Patent Litigation in India, quality of patents and the scope provided thereby is a crucial aspect that is evaluated / scrutinized by the Courts/Appellate Boards. Furthermore, gone are the times when Indian Companies, Universities, and Individuals were only looking forward to creating Defensive Patent Portfolios in India, wherein entities are nowadays looking towards building an aggressive portfolio with sustainable commercial value. More and more PCT and Convention Applications are being filed each month/year by Indian Applicants with around 40-60 Indian Priority Taking PCT Applications being published each week. Most of these patents are filed with an objective of either Licensing, or Enforcement, or In- House Commercialization, and hence quality of patent drafting including claim drafting, scope of protection accorded, variety of embodiments presented, support in the specification, limitations provided, among other aspects is crucial to Patent Applications.

This initiative of IPDC comes with an earnest effort by IIPRD and K&K to promote the development of Patent Drafting as a Skill Set and encourage more and more technical people to take up Patent Drafting as a Professional Competency, along with identifying and encouraging Top Patent Drafters in Country.

Step 1: On 2'nd September 2019, IIPRD and K&K, on their websites (www.aeris.net.in and www.khuranaandkhurana.com), would put forth Three Invention Disclosures (describing three Inventions), one each in the domain of Electronics/ Hi-Tech, Mechanical, and Chemistry/Pharmaceuticals. The Patent Drafting Competition would be active till 16'th September 2019, within which time frame, Eligible Participants would need to write Complete Patent Applications/Specifications (along with Drawings, if applicable) complying with Indian Patent Act for a technical domain of their choice (1 Patent Application per Participant).

Step 2: Drafted Patent Application can be sent to competition@aeris.net.in or can be sent in Hard Copy to Physical Office of IIPRD, which is at "E-13, UPSIDC Site IV, Behind Grand Venice, Greater Noida". In either of the ways, the patent application draft has to be received by IIPRD on or before 16'th September 2019.

Step 3: In order to enable only serious participants to submit their Applications/Specifications, a Participation Fees of Rs. 1000/- is to be submitted by each Participant, which can either be paid by means of Bank Transfer or through Cheque/DD in favour of "IIPRD". The Draft should reach IIPRD's Office by 16'th September 2019 Each fee submission should be accompanied with the Name, Address, and Contact Details of the Participant so that Participation Certificate can be sent at the given Address to Each Participant. Fees would be reduced to INR 500 per person if a group of 3 participants submits together.

Step 1: On 25'th of September 2019, two winners for each technology domain (total of 6 winners) would be announced on the website of IIPRD, K&K, and its affiliates/associates, wherein the winners would be decided based on a combination of numerous factors such as flow of the specification, scope covered through embodiments, claim drafting strategy, and accuracy of technical coverage. The evaluation would be done collectively by representatives from each International Law Firm and Khurana & Khurana, IP Attorneys, coordinated by IIPRD. Their collective decision on selection of the winners would be final and shall not be open to change in any manner.

Any Practitioner having a Technical/Science Background is eligible to Participate in the Competition. For instance, the Participant could be a student, a practicing Attorney, an in-house counsel, a scientist, a faculty, or any other stakeholder having a technical qualification.

Important Dates to Remember:

WINNERS LIST (2018)

WINNERS LIST (2017)

WINNERS LIST (2016)

WINNERS LIST (2015)