Explore whether IP India provides an API, alternatives for accessing patent, trademark, and design data, and how startups, developers, and IP professionals can leverage it.

At a Glance: No Official Public API from IP India

As of now, there is no official public-facing REST or SOAP API provided by IP India (Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks) to fetch patent or application data. Their primary publicly accessible tools are:

1. InPASS (Patent Search & E‑Register) – the online search portal 

2. Patent Office Journal & Publications – downloadable PDFs and RSS feeds via their website 
   
   These are meant for manual use and do not expose structured APIs.

Alternatives for Accessing Data

1. Open Government Data Portal (data.gov.in)

While the portal lists many datasets, there is no direct patent API currently available .

2. WIPO API Catalog

WIPO maintains a broader IP API directory, but it typically covers global PCT data—not specifically India’s patent register 

Platforms like QuickCompany, PatSnap, Derwent, etc., offer structured data and APIs—though not official—through commercial subscriptions.

4. Custom Scraping or Automation

You can automate search retrieval from InPASS (e.g., via headless browser automation) or parse PDF outputs. Note that scraping must respect captcha and terms of service. As noted by developers, IP India’s site is JS-heavy and may complicate scraping .

Why There’s No Public API

• The InPASS portal is built primarily for manual search via web UI with captcha protection.

• IP India hasn't formally released an API developer platform or documentation.

• High traffic and misuse concerns prevent open API deployment.

How to Get Patent Data for Your Startup

Conclusion: Get the Data You Need with a Smart Approach.

IP India does not currently provide a formal patent API. For data access, you can combine manual use, third-party services, or build custom solutions—each with tradeoffs in cost, reliability, and scalability.

If your venture relies on patent data, consider leveraging dependable paid APIs or establishing semi-automated workflows on InPASS, while staying within legal and practical guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Can I call IP India directly for an API key?
👉 No. IP India has not publicly offered a data API or developer access program.

Q2. Are there technical limitations to scraping the InPASS site?
👉 Yes. Features like captcha, async JS, and search throttling make scraping challenging 

Q3. Does WIPO's API include Indian national patent data?
👉 Partially. It includes PCT-level data, but not all India-specific updates.

Q4. Are third-party patent APIs reliable?
👉 Yes, for most commercial needs. They compile data from multiple jurisdictions, including India, under paid subscriptions.

Q5. Is scraping legal for IP India data?
👉 It's technically allowed for public info, but frequent or aggressive scraping may breach their terms of service or trigger blocks.