Legislative Framework of IP Administration

CONTROLLER GENERAL OF PATENTS, DESIGNS AND TRADEMARKS

(CGPDTM)
PATENT OFFICE IPTI ,NIIPM, P.I.S. Nagpur T M REGISTRY G.I. REGISTRY

Head Office KOLKATA Branch DELHI

DESIGN OFFICE

Head Office MUMBAI

CHENNAI

DELHI KOLKATA KOLKATA

Branch CHENNAI

Branch MUMBAI

CHENNAI

ABAD

What is an Invention?
Sec.2(1)(J) Invention means a new product or process involving an inventive step and capable of industrial application

Patentable subject matter

Invention must
relates to a Process or Product or both be new (Novel) involves an inventive step be Capable of industrial application not fall under Section 3 and 4

NEW
MEANS
Invention must not be
Published in India or elsewhere In prior public knowledge or prior public use with in India Claimed before in any specification in India

Inventive step
A feature of an invention that
involves technical advance as compared to the existing knowledge or have economic significance or both and makes the invention not obvious to a person skilled in the art

Industrial application means

Invention is capable of being made or used in any kind of industry

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3(a)
Frivolous inventions Inventions contrary to well established natural laws

Examples
Machine that gives more than 100% performance Perpetual machine

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3(b)
Commercial exploitation or primary use of inventions, which is

Contrary to
public order or Morality

Examples
Gambling machine, Device for house-breaking ,

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3(b)
Commercial exploitation or primary use of inventions , which

Causes serious Prejudice to

health or human, animal, plant life or to the environment

Examples
Biological warfare material or device, weapons of mass destruction Terminator gene technology, Embryonic stem cell

Checks and Balances

Section 3(b)
Excludes patents on GMOs exploitation of which could be contrary public order or morality or prejudicial to human, animal or plant life or health or to the environment Effect : Only genetically modified microorganisms (GMOs) which do not fall under section 3 (b) are patentable.

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3 ( c )
Mere Discovery of a Scientific Principle or formulation of an Abstract Theory or discovery of any living thing or discovery of nonliving substance occurring in nature

Examples
Newtons Laws Superconducting Phenomenon as such Property of certain material to withstand mechanical shock Discovery of micro-organism Discovery of natural gas or a mineral

Checks and Balances

Section 3(c)
Excludes patents on Naturally occurring Micro-organisms

Effect
Genetically modified microorganisms (GMOs) are however, patentable.

Section 3 exclusions
Section3 (d)
The mere discovery of a new form of a known substance which does not result in the enhancement of the known efficacy of that substance

Section 3 exclusions
Section3 (d) Explanation
For the purposes of this clause,
salts, esters, ethers, polymorphs, metabolites, pure form, particle size, isomers, mixture of isomers, complexes, combinations and other derivatives of known substances

shall be considered to be the same substance,

unless they

differ significantly in properties with regard to efficacy.

Examples
Crystalline forms of known substance

Checks and Balances

Section 3 (d) Explanation

Effect
Salts, esters, ethers, polymorphs, metabolite, pure forms, particle size, isomers, complexes, combinations and derivatives of a known substance with enhanced efficacy are patentable

Section 3 exclusions
Section3 (d)
Mere discovery of any new property or new use for a known substance or of the mere use of a known process, machine or apparatus, unless such known process results in a new product or employs at least one new reactant.

Examples
New use of Aspirin for heart ailments, Mere new uses of Neem

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3(e)
Substance obtained by mere admixture resulting only in the aggregation of the properties of the components thereof or a process for producing such substance

Examples
Combiflam [Paracetamol (Antipyretic) + Brufen (analgesic)] Solution of sugar and color additives in water to form a soft drink

However,
A mixture resulting into synergistic properties of mixture of ingredients however, may be patentable - Soap, Detergents, lubricants etc

Checks and Balances

Section 3 ( e )

Effect
Substance obtained by mere admixture resulting only in the aggregation of the properties of the components thereof or a process for producing such substance are not patentable

However
Synergistic formulations are patentable

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3 ( f )
Mere arrangement or re-arrangement or duplication of known devices, each functioning independently of one another in a known way

Examples

A Bucket fitted with torch,

An Umbrella with fan A Clock and radio in a single cabinet A flour-mill provided with sieving

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3(h)
Method of Agriculture or Horticulture

Examples
Cultivation of algae , Producing new form of a known plant, Preparation of an improved soil

However,
Agricultural Equipments are patentable

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3(i)
Any process for medicinal, surgical, curative, prophylactic, diagnostic, therapeutic or other treatment of human beings or a similar treatment of animals to render them free of disease or to increase their economic value or that of their products

Examples
Removal of cancer tumor Removal of dental plaque and carries Surgical processes Processes relating to therapy Method of vaccination, Blood transfusion

However ,
Treatment performed on tissues or fluids permanently removed from the body Surgical,therapeutic or diagnostic Apparatus or instruments
are patentable

Section3 exclusions
Section 3(j)
Plants & animals in whole or any part thereof other than microorganisms,but including seeds, varieties and species and essentially biological process for production or propagation of plants & animals

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3(j)
Plants & animals in whole Parts of plants & animals Seeds Varieties & species Essentially biological processes for propagation or production of the animals & plants

Checks and Balances

Section 3(j)

Excludes patents on
Plants and animals in whole or any parts thereof, including seeds, varieties and species and essentially biological processes for production or propagation of plants and animals

Examples
Clones and new varieties of plants A process for production of plants or animals if it consists entirely of natural phenomena such as crossing or selection Essentially biological Process

Section 3 exclusions Section 3(k)

* * * *
mathematical method or business method or algorithms or computer programme per se

Examples
Computer program by itself or as a record on a
carrier

However
New calculating machine combination of hardware and software
is patentable

Section 3 exclusions Section 3(l)

A literary,dramatic, musical or artistic work or any other aesthetic creation including cinematographic work and television productions

These subject-matters fall under the copyright protection

Section 3 exclusions Section 3(m)

A mere scheme or rule or method of performing mental act or method of playing game

Examples
Scheme for learning a language Method for solving a crossword puzzle, Method of learning a language Method of teaching /learning

However,
Novel apparatus for playing game or carrying out a scheme is patentable

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3 (n)
Presentation of information

Examples
Any manner or method information whether by
spoken words Visual display symbols diagrams

of

expressing

Information recorded on a carrier

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3 (o)

Topography of integrated circuits.

Examples
Mask works - circuits layout

Section 3 exclusions
Section 3 (p)
Inventions which are
Traditional Knowledge or an aggregation or duplication of known properties of traditionally known component or components

Examples
Traditional Knowledge already in public domain - Wound healing property of Haldi

However,
Any value-addition using Traditional Knowledge leading to a new process or product ,which is novel with inventive step and industrial applicability, gExtraction of Azadirachtin from Neem

can be patented

Non Patentable inventions

Section 4
Inventions falling within Section 20(1) of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 are not patentable

Effect
Inventions relating to compounds of Uranium, Beryllium, Thorium, Plutonium, Radium, Graphite, Lithium and more as notified by Central Govt. from time to time.

Stages from filing to grant of a patent

Obtaining a patent
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

Information concerning application form and details of fee available at www.ipindia.nic.in Guidelines for applicants also available on this website

Formality Check
An Examiner checks the formal requirements before accepting the application and the fee this is done immediately Issue of application number and the cash receipt this is done the same day In case of receipt of application by post, cash receipt, application number is sent by post within 2-3 days

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 In that case, application is published within one month of the request

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

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

Issue of FER
A period of 1 to 3 months is available to Examiner to submit the report to the Controller 1 months time available to Controller to vet the Examiners report First Examination Report (FER) containing gist of the objections is issued within 6 months from the date of filing of request

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

Pre-grant Opposition
After publication, an opposition can be filed within a period of 6 months Opportunity of hearing the opponent is also available

Examination of Pre-grant Opposition

Opposition (documents) is sent to the applicant A period of 3 months is allowed for receipt of response

Consideration of Pre-grant Opposition

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

Grant of a Patent
A certificate of patent is issued within 7 days Grant of patent is published in the official journal

STAGES - FILING TO GRANT OF PATENT

FILING OF APPLICATION PROVNL. / COMPLETE PUBLICATION OF APPLICATION
IF P.S.IS FILED C.S. TO BE FILED WITHIN 12MONTHS
PROMPTLY AFTER 18 MONTHS FROM P.D.

REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION

WITHIN 48 MONTHS FROM F.D.

EXAMINATION-ISSUE OF FER

3rd Party Representation

ALL OBJECTIONS TO BE COMPLIED WITHIN 12 MONTHS

GRANT OF PATENT
WITHIN 12 MONTHS

OPPOSITION

Decision of Controller Appeal

Appellate Board

Revocation/Amendment

Renewal Fee
To be paid within 3+6 months from date of recording in the register [sec 142 (4) ] 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

D.P.S. PARMAR Deputy Controller of Patents and Designs

Website: www.ipindia.nic.in