This document provides an overview of the Indian patent system. It defines what a patent is, describes the different types of patents, and outlines the patent application and examination process. Key points include that patents in India are governed by the Patents Act of 1970 and provide 20 years of exclusivity, and that applications undergo formality examination, publication, request for examination, issuance of an examination report, opportunities for opposition, and potential grant of a patent. The rights of patent holders and processes for infringement, licensing, and renewal are also summarized.
2. OBJECTIVE
• The objective of this project is to make you familiar with this
intellectual property .
• To develop a
3. What is a patent ?
• A patent is a grant from the government which
confers on the guarantee for a limited period of time
the exclusive privilege of making, selling and using
the invention for which a patent has been granted.
• Acts as a incentives for the development of new
products .
• In india patents are governed by patents act 1970
4. Types Of Patents
• Three types of patent are granted under the
provisions of the act, namely:
• An Ordinary Patent
• A Patent Of Addition
• A Patent Of Convention
• A second type of classification of patent is:
1. Product Patent
2. Process Patent
5. Purpose of getting a patent
• To enjoy the exclusive rights over the invention.
• The patent is to ensure commercial returns to the
inventor for the time and money spend in generating
a new product.
6. What can be patented?
• In order to be patentable , an invention must pass
four tests;
• The invention must fall into one of the five “statutory
classes’: Processes, Machines , Manufactures
Compositions of matter, and New uses of any of the
above
• The invention must be “novel”
• The invention must be “useful”
• The invention must be “nonobvious
7. Non Patentable Inventions
• Inventions falling within Section 20(1) of the Atomic Energy
Act, 1962 are not patentable.
• . Inventions relating to compounds of Uranium, Beryllium,
Thorium, Plutonium, Radium, Graphite, Lithium and more as
notified by Central govt.
• Causes harm to humans or environment.
• New use of existing product.
• Mere discovery of a scientific principle without manifesting
it in a product.
• Inventions that are contrary to established natural laws.
• A new method of agriculture.
8. Salient features of patent law
• Both product and process patent provided.
• Term of patent – 20 years.
• Examination on request.
• Both pre-grant and post-grant opposition .
• Fast track mechanism for disposal of appeals.
• Publication of applications after 18 months with
facility for early publication.
9. FILING OF APPLICATION
PUBLICATION OF APPLICATION
REQUEST OF EXAMINATION
ISSUE OF FER
GRANT OF A PATENT
DECISION OF A CONTROLLER
APPELLATE BOARD
Third party
representation
Opposition(within 12
months)
AMENDMENT
APPEAL
All objections to be
compiled within 12
months
STAGES –FROM FILLING TO GRANT
10. Obtaining A Patent
In India patents are granted on a first to apply basis
• File an application for patent
With one of the patent offices based on territorial jurisdiction
of the place of office or residence of the applicant /agent.
Pay the required fee.
• Formality check and issue of application number
11. PUBLICATION
Application is kept secret for a period of 18 months from the
date of filing.
In 19th month, the application is published in the official
journal – this journal is made available on the website weekly.
Applicant has an option to get his application published
before 18 months also
12. Request for Examination
• Application is examined on request.
• Request for examination can be made either by the
applicant or by a third party.
• A period of 48 months, from the date of filing, is
available for making request for examination.
13. Examination
• Application is sent to an Examiner within 1 month from the
date of request for examination.
• Examiner undertakes examination w.r.t.
– whether the claimed invention is not prohibited for grant
of patent .
– whether the invention meets the criteria of patentability.
14. Issue of FER
• A period of 1 to 3 months is available to Examiner to submit
the report to the Controller.
• 1 month’s time available to Controller to vet the Examiner’s
report .
• First Examination Report (FER) containing list of the objections
is issued within 6 months from the date of filing of request.
15. Response from the Applicant
• 12 months’ time, from the date of issue of
FER, is available to the applicant to meet the
objections.
• If objections are met, grant of patent is
approved by the Controller – within a period
of 1 month.
16. Pre-grant Opposition
• After publication, an opposition can be filed within a
period of 6 months
• Opportunity of hearing the opponent is also
available
17. Examination of Pre-grant Opposition
• Opposition (documents) is sent to the applicant.
• A period of 3 months is allowed for receipt of response
• After examining the opposition and the submissions made during
the hearing, Controller may
– Either reject the opposition and grant the patent
– Or accept the opposition and modify/reject the patent
application
• This is to be done within a period of 1 month from the date of
completion of opposition proceedings
18. Grant of a Patent
• A certificate of patent is issued within 7 days.
• Grant of patent is published in the official journal.
19. Post grant opposition
• Any interested person can file opposition ,within one year of
the date of publication of grant of a patent.
• Indians cannot file for patents application abroad unless any
of the following conditions are met.
Written permission has to be obtained from the controller of
patents
A patent for the same invention has been filed in india at least
six weeks prior to filing it abroad
20. Renewal Fee
• To be paid within 3+6 months from date of recording in the register.
• No fee for 1st and 2nd year.
• Renewal fee, on yearly basis, is required to be paid for 3rd to 20th for
keeping the patent in force.
• Delay upto six months from due date permissible on payment of fee
for extension of time .
• Patent lapses if renewal fee is not paid within the prescribed period.
21. Rights of a patentee
1. Right to exploit the patent.
The patentee has a right to prevent 3rd parties, from exploiting the
patented invention.
2. Right to grant license.
The patentee has a power to assign rights or grant license.
3. Right to surrender.
The patentee is given the right to surrender the patent by giving notice in
prescribed manner to the controller.
4. Right to sue for infringement.
A patentee is given the right to institute proceeding for infringement of
the patent in a district court .
22. INFRINGEMENT
• Infringement of patent rights can result from making using,selling, or
importing for these purposes, the products in india without the
permission of patent holder.
• A patent holder can file for injuction of for damages on accounts of
profit lost.
• Infringement in india does not lead to filing of criminal charges.
• In case the defendant proves that he/she was not aware of the
existence of a patent, the patentee is not awarded any damages.
• Only the infringing goods are destroyed and handed over to the
patentee.
23. Licencing of patents
• In case you don’t have any financial strength or the
oraganizational reach to do justice to your own invention,it is
good to licence to other company.
• Share in patent is valid under following conditions
Written agreement between the parties containing all agreed
terms and conditions.
An application for the registration of agreement must be filed
within six months of the execution of agreement.
24. Benefits an entrepreneurial venture gain from patents
• Used to secure a technological lead.
• The technological lead provided by the patent can be
used by the entrepreneur to establish trademarks.
• Venture can extend the protection given by the
applicant by marketing complementary products
protected by different patents.
• By licencing patents to the suppliers, it is possible to
create power chains by tying with the suppliers.
• It can be used by an entrepreneur to create industry
standards.