Comments on: Friday food for thought: Trend spotting on Google

By: arjun anand

arjun anand — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 21:08:23 +0000

It’s neither the cost nor the English literacy that will ensure India becoming a legal outsourcing destination of the world. It is the diversity of talent pool and the synergy that service providers want to create that is unbeatable.

By: J. Matthew Buchanan

J. Matthew Buchanan — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 22:08:24 +0000

cK - The outsourcing issue seems to have peaked and retreated in recent months. I suspect that a significant part of the focus on India in the patent world is due to the recent changes to its patent laws that bring that country into full TRIPs compliance. The international pharmaceutical industry, for one, has been watching India closely as the country begins to provide patent protection for pharmaceutical compositions.
Visit the India archives on Promote the Progress for more information on that subject.

By: J. Matthew Buchanan

J. Matthew Buchanan — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 22:03:27 +0000

cK - Thanks for the comment. India is a focus of the patent world today for many reasons, outsourcing of patent drafting being only one. Bob adds an interesting perspective to that issue. I don’t dismiss it as quickly as he does - some patent applicants will always be attracted to lower costs. Those that want craftsmanship, though, will likely continue their relationship with US counsel. That said, the strategically-minded US counsel will look for ways in which they can add value to the process, including staying up to date on current developments in the law affecting patent preparation and prosecution, learning the business environment of the client and its industry, and helping the client with strategic patenting initiatives.

What’s the future for patent-related outsourcing? Searching might be amenable to efficient outsourcing, particularly when plugged into an internal corporate system. As I hinted at above, application drafting in India (and probably elsewhere, sooner or later) will have a future with applicants who simply want to crank out reams of patent applications that aren’t necessarily prepared with an overall business strategy in mind….or current law, for that matter.

Bob - settle down. I don’t think cK ever implied that the sky is falling. Outsourcing is a pink elephant in the room…you’ve got to acknowledge it and talk about it. Dismissing it doesn’t change the fact that it’s already here and will continue walking around the room for some time to come.

By: Bob Loblaw

Bob Loblaw — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 16:34:52 +0000

Bah, hum-bug!

Don’t buy into this Chicken Little “all patent drafting is going to India” thing.

What does India have?

They “fluently” speak English! Oh, wait..the Canadians speak English too. Hmm…we don’t seem to see a max exodus of patent drafting work to Canada. So…it isn’t “speaks English.”

What else is there? Oh yeah…cheap labor. I don’t know about you, but it’s pretty unlikely that cheap labor is ever REALLY going to take over “arts” like patent drafting. Seriously.

When people start flying to India to have open heart surgery done to take advantage of the cheap labor…then we can start worrying about it.

Until then…the sky is not falling.

By: cK

cK — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 15:28:43 +0000

Saw the google trends for Patent. Yup, India is fast emerging as a destination for Patent work. Today’s article in Business world says it all “Invented in US drafted in India”

In fact, I am also working as a patent analyst in IP consultancy company in India.

How do you see the future od patent related outsourcing? Maybe not drafting of patents, but what about prior art searches? Patent landscapes?…..

Hope to have a new post for this topic.

best of luck and keep blogging.