India is likely to ask for the maximum time permissible for 15 months for putting in place the patent protection mechanisms required by the World Trade Organisation. As the WTO's appellate body has agreed with the initial WTO ruling on the US complaint that India failed to comply with the changes required in its patent laws, the Government now has little choice except to ask for extra time to put the laws into place. The appellate body ruling wil be discussed at the meeting of the WTO's dispute settlement body (DSB)next week.