Which Officer Is Capable Of Granting Compulsory Licensing Permission?

• A. Director Of Legal Affairs Of IPO
• B. Director-General Of IPO
• C. Director Of Transfer Of Technology Of IPO
• D. Director Of Patents Of IPO

Answer: (B)

Compulsory licensing is a government-authorized permission to use a patented invention without the owner’s consent, allowed under specific public-interest conditions. In the Indian IP framework, the power to grant such a license sits with the Director-General of the Intellectual Property Office, who heads the Patent Office and acts as the licensing authority for patent matters. This makes the Director-General the correct official to issue the compulsory license. The other roles listed handle related administrative tasks—legal affairs, technology transfer, or patent administration—but they do not possess the statutory authority to grant compulsory licenses. Their roles support the process, while the final licensing decision rests with the Director-General.