Mumbai-based Vision-IPR, a leading IPR consultant firm, has started a new patent information service {PIS} in which the latest gazettes are scanned and specialist reports based on the gazette information for its clients are prepared. The report is given to clients of Vision IPR in an electronic form and covers patents filed, patents accepted, patent-opposition decisions, PCT patents in the national phase in India, patents granted and sealed, design applications etc in a very user-friendly and tailored made manner.

There exist about 52 gazettes a year, which are authorized by the Kolkota office. An authorization copy is simultaneously circulated to the Mumbai, Delhi and the Chennai offices. The copy of the gazette is then sent to the gazette printing press in Ghaziabad. From here the printed gazette is dispatched to whoever has asked for a copy. "Besides all the patent information being clubbed in the report, it takes about eight weeks till a client receives the report from the government," said Dr Prabudha Ganguly, advisor, Vision-IPR.

Prof. Ganguli informed that Vision IPR's PIS will not only simplify and tailor make the filings of the gazette as per the clients requirements, but will also dispatch the report within one week after it is out. "We have employed two specialists, who will be in direct touch with the Mumbai-gazette office. Our officers would be simultaneously receiving an authorized copy of the gazette. Thereafter, within one week, we will classify and tailor make the patent report as required by the client," he said. "We will charge Rs. 45,000 for 12 reports sent to our clients annually. Each report covers at least four gazettes and the 12 together cover the 52 gazettes for the year," he said. For a weekly report the cost per report would be high.

Started in March 2002 Vision IPR already has 8-9 corporate clients out of which about five are pharma clients. The firm recruits only PHDs and engineers as its researchers. It intends to recruit more as its clientele list rises.