The government on Friday launched a facility for e-filing of patent and trademark applications to expedite the process of securing exclusive rights over a product or trading symbol.

"With the launch of e-filing facilities, applicants can file their patent and trademark applications at their convenience through the Internet. Payments can also be made through authorised bankers," Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said here.

As of now five lakh trademarks have been registered in the country and efforts are being taken to ensure the backlog of applications is cleared promptly, Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Ajay Dua said.

Last year, 29,000 patent application were filed in the country, of which 8,000 were approved, he added.

Dua said the number of patents in the country increased by over 600 per cent from 1999-2000, when less than 5,000 applications were filed.

The modules for e-filing and on-line processing have been developed by the National Informatics Centre, while the payment gateway is currently being provided by State Bank of India.

Dua said the government had undertaken a Rs 153-crore programme to modernise infrastructure of Intellectual Property Offices in the country, under which four new offices were built in metros.

"In the 11th five year plan Rs 300 crore has been earmarked for the the second phase of modernisation," Dua said. A National Institute of Intellectual Property Management would also be set up in Nagpur to train people in IPR.