A sensible approach to determine patentability of computer implemented inventions

Introduction

Software development is a field that witnesses various types of innovation. Some of the innovations may be regarded as technical innovations, while others may be non-technical in nature. However, often technical innovations and non-technical innovations are intertwined, whereas patent protection is accorded to inventions that are technical in nature. Therefore, patent office of various jurisdictions have faced challenges while examining software inventions, or what is generally known as Computer Implemented Inventions (CII).

Among many jurisdictions, India and the European Patent Convention (EPC) have statutes for preventing non-technical inventions from being patented. One may be tempted to even say that India leans towards the EPC approach of dealing with CII, both in terms of statute and patent office guidelines. However, in India the guideline for dealing with CII has been evolving over the years.

EPC’s provisions concerning patentability of Computer-implemented inventions (CII)

The EPC excludes computer programs "in itself" from being patented. In effect, inventions which do not consist purely of computer programs and codes, but instead implement the programs in a device (hardware) may constitute potentially patentable subject matter. A CII is one which:

  • involves the use of a computer, computer network or other programmable apparatus
  • has one or more features realized wholly or partly by means of a computer program

While "programs for computers" are listed under excluded subject matter, the same may not be excluded from patentability if it is capable of bringing about, when running on or loaded into a computer or any hardware, substantial technical effect that goes beyond the "normal" physical interactions between the program (software) and the computer (hardware) on which it is run. A further technical effect which lends technical character to a computer program may exist

  • in the control of an industrial process; or
  • in the internal functioning of the computer itself or its interfaces under the influence of the program and could, for example, affect the efficiency.

However, a note should be made that the normal specifications of a computer or any hardware, for example, electrical currents, among others, do not contribute technical character to a computer program, and a further technical effect is needed. The further technical effect may or may not be known in the prior art. In other words, or in a layman’s language, if any programs running in the computer is capable of bringing about certain remarkable result in the functioning or operation of the computer itself or any other hardware onto which such programs are loaded, then the subject matter, although includes computer programs, may be included under patentable subject matter.

A simple test to determine whether technical character exists in a claim covering CII would be to consider whether each feature or their combination lends any technical contribution to the claim.

To determine existence of technical contribution, one may check whether the claimed technical effect results in the computer being made to operate in a new way that is more efficient and effective. Further, if the resultant technical effect overcomes the objective technical problem, then the claim in question has “further technical effect”.

If claimed subject-matter relating to a computer program does not have a technical character, the claim may be rejected. If the subject-matter passes the test for technicality, the examiner proceeds to the questions of novelty and inventive step.

Let’s take a look at what happened in Apple Inc. and HTC Corporation concerning Apple’s patent European Patent No. 2 098 948 (the ‘948 patent”). The ‘948 patent relates to computer devices with touch sensitive screens which are capable of responding to more than one touch at a time. The judge found claims 1 and 2 were invalid because they related to computer programs as such. The court of Appeal, however found the judge’s decision erroneous and traversed the judge’s decision. The specification addresses the problem associated with multi-touch interface.  The Court of Appeal affirmed that the problem which the patent addresses, namely how to deal with multiple simultaneous touches on one of the new multi-touch devices, is essentially technical. The Court of Appeal further explains that the solution to this problem lies in a method of dividing up the screen of such a device into views and configuring each view as a multi-touch view or a single-touch view using flags with a specific functionality in the manner, and that the method concerns the basic internal operation of the device and applies irrespective of the particular application for which the device is being used and the application software which it is running for that purpose. Further, the Court stated that it causes the device to operate in a new and improved way and it presents an improved interface to application software writers. Hence, the Court of Appeal asserted that invention does make a technical contribution to the art and its contribution does not lie in excluded matter.

Application of Problem-Solution Approach (PSA) for assessment of inventive step of claims that consists of both technical as well as non technical features

A common case with CII is that claims of such inventions may have a mix of technical and non-technical features. When assessing the inventive step of such a claim, those features which contribute to the technical character of the invention are taken into account. These may also include the features which, when considered individually, are non-technical, but in the context of the invention, contribute to producing a technical effect serving a technical purpose, thereby contributing to the technical character of the invention. However, if a feature contributes only to the solution of a non-technical problem, such a claim cannot support the presence of an inventive step.

The problem-solution approach is applied to mixed-type inventions so as to ensure that inventive step is acknowledged by taking into consideration all those features which contribute to technical character of the claim and not on the basis of features not contributing to the technical character of the invention.

Steps for applying problem-solution approach to mixed-type inventions:

  • The features which contribute to the technical character of the invention are determined.
  • Closest prior art is selected based on the features contributing to the technical character of the invention identified in the previous step.
  • The differences from the closest prior art are identified.

The claim(s) as a whole is/are determined in order to identify and differentiate the features which make a technical contribution from those which do not.

If no differences (even non-technical difference) are found, an objection under Art 54 is raised. If the differences do not make any technical contribution, an objection under Art 56 is raised. If the differences include features that make technical contribution, then, the objective technical problem is formulated on the basis of the technical effect(s) achieved by these features. Further, if the claimed technical solution to the objective technical problem appears obvious to the person skilled in the art, an objection under Art 56 is raised.

A prima facie determination of the features contributing to the technical character of the invention is performed for all the features. The technical effects achieved by the differences over the selected closest prior art are determined and the extent to which the differences contribute to the technical character of the invention is analysed based on these technical effects. A detailed analysis may reveal that some features considered prima facie as not contributing to the technical character of the invention do, on closer inspection, appear to make such a contribution. The reverse situation is also possible. In such cases, the selection of the closest prior art might need to be revised.

While applying PSA to determine technical and non technical character of a claim, care should be taken to avoid missing any features that might contribute to the technical character of the claimed subject-matter.

Conclusion

In conclusion, claimed subject-matter is always considered as a whole when evaluating whether individual features contribute to its technical character. However, only that part of the subject-matter which is determined to contribute to its technical character is taken into account when assessing inventive step. As long as there is at least one technical feature, the whole claim has technical character, and is therefore not excluded from patentability.

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AKANKSHA

Meet Akanksha Vishnoi, a seasoned advocate registered with the Bar Council of Delhi, dedicated to safeguarding our clients’ innovation and creativity. She specializes in providing expert guidance on patent, trademark, and design filing and prosecution strategies in India and the US. Her core area of practice involves managing IP portfolios, filing patent, trademark and design applications in India and the US, conducting trademark searches, prepare well curated arguments during prosecution, oppositions and hearings before the Indian Trademark, monitoring and maintaining registered intellectual property.

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India Patent - SECTION 29

Anticipation by previous publication.—

(1) An invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only that the invention was published in a specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made in India and dated before the 1st day of January, 1912.

(2) Subject as hereinafter provided, an invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only that the invention was published before the priority date of the relevant claim of the specification, if the patentee or the applicant for the patent proves—

(a) that the matter published was obtained from him, or (where he is not himself the true and first inventor) from any person from whom he derives title, and was published without his consent or the consent of any such person; and

(b) where the patentee or the applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title learned of the publication before the date of the application for the patent, or, in the case of a convention application, before the date of the application for protection in a convention country, that the application or the application in the convention country, as the case may be, was made as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter:

Provided that this sub-section shall not apply if the invention was before the priority date of the claim commercially worked in India, otherwise than for the purpose of reasonable trial, either by the patentee or the applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title or by any other person with the consent of the patentee or the applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title.

(3) Where a complete specification is filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made by a person being the true and first inventor or deriving title from him, an invention claimed in that specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only of any other application for a patent in respect of the same invention made in contravention of the rights of that person, or by reason only that after the date of filing of that other application the invention was used or published, without the consent of that person, by the applicant in respect of that other application, or by any other person in consequence of any disclosure of any invention by that applicant.

India Patent - SECTION 17

Power of Controller to make orders respecting dating of application.—

(1) Subject to the provisions of section 9, at any time after the filing of an application and [before the grant] Subs. by s. 16, ibid., for “before the acceptance of the complete specification” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005). of the patent under this Act, the Controller may, at the request of the -applicant made in the prescribed manner, direct that the application shall be post-dated to such date as may be specified in the request, and proceed with the application accordingly:

Provided that no application shall be post-dated under this sub-section to a date later than six months from the date on which it was actually made or would, but for the provisions of this sub-section, be deemed to have been made. 

[(2) Where an application or specification (including drawings) or any other document is required to be amended under section 15, the application or specification or other document shall, if the Controller so directs, be deemed to have been made on the date on which the requirement is complied with or where the application or specification or other document is returned to the applicant on the date on which it is re-filed after complying with the requirement] Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 13, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 20-5-2003)..

India Patent - SECTION 35

Secrecy directions relating to inventions relevant for defence purposes.—

(1) Where, in respect of an application made before or after the commencement of this Act for a patent, it appears to the Controller that the invention is one of a class notified to him by the Central Government as relevant for defence purposes, or, where otherwise the invention appears to him to be so relevant, he may give directions for prohibiting or restricting the publication of information with respect to the invention or the communication of such information.*The words “to any person or class of persons specified in the directions” omitted by Act 38 of 2002, s. 19 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003)

(2) Where the Controller gives any such directions as are referred to in subsection (1), he shall give notice of the application and of the directions to the Central Government, and the Central Government shall, upon receipt of such notice, consider whether the publication of the invention would be prejudicial to the defence of India, and if upon such consideration, it appears to it that the publication of the invention would not so prejudice, give notice to the Controller to that effect, who shall thereupon revoke the directions and notify the applicant accordingly.

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), where the Central Government is of opinion that an invention in respect of which the Controller has not given any directions under sub-section (1), is relevant for defence purposes, it may at any time before [grant of patent] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 28, for “acceptance of complete specification” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005) notify the Controller to that effect, and thereupon the provisions of that sub-section shall apply as if the invention where one of the class notified by the Central Government, and accordingly the Controller shall give notice to the Central Government of the directions issued by him. 

India Patent - SECTION 5

Inventions where only methods or processes of manufacture patentable:

[Omitted by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005]

India Patent - SECTION 13

Search for anticipation by previous publication and by prior claim.— 

(1) The examiner to whom an application for a patent is referred under section 12 shall make investigation for the purpose of ascertaining whether the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification— 

(a) has been anticipated by publication before the date of filing of the applicant’s complete specification in any specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made in India and dated on or after the 1st day of January, 1912; 

(b) is claimed in any claim of any other complete specification published on or after the date of filing of the applicant’s complete specification, being a specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made in India and dated before or claiming the priority date earlier than that date.

(2) The examiner shall, in addition, make such investigation (The words “as the Controller may direct” omitted by Act 38 of 2002, s. 11 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003) for the purpose of ascertaining whether the invention, so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification, has been anticipated by publication in India or elsewhere in any document other than those mentioned in sub-section (1) before the date of filing of the applicant’s complete specification. 

(3) Where a complete specification is amended under the provisions of this Act before [the grant of patent]Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 13, for “it has been accepted” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005), the amended specification shall be examined and investigated in like manner as the original specification. 

(4) The examination and investigations required under section 12 and this section shall not be deemed in any way to warrant the validity of any patent, and no liability shall be incurred by the Central Government or any officer thereof by reason of, or in connection with, any such examination or investigation or any report or other proceedings consequent thereon.

India Patent - SECTION 12

Examination of application.—

[(1) When a request for examination has been made in respect of an application for a patent in the prescribed manner under sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) of section 11B, the application and specification and other documents related thereto shall be referred at the earliest by the Controller] Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 10, for certain words (w.e.f. 20-5-2003). to an examiner for making a report to him in respect of the following matters, namely:—  

(a) whether the application and the [specification and other documents relating thereto] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 12, for certain words, brackets, figures and letter (w.e.f. 1-1-2005). are in accordance with the requirements of this Act and of any rules made thereunder; 

(b) whether there is any lawful ground of objection to the grant of the patent under this Act in pursuance of the application; 

(c) the result of investigations made under section 13; and 

(d) any other matter which may be prescribed.

(2) The examiner to whom the application and the [specification and other documents relating thereto] Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 10, for “specification relating thereto” (w.e.f. 20-5-2003) are referred under sub-section (1) shall ordinarily make the report to the Controller within [such period as may be prescribed].Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 12, for “a period of eighteen months from the date of such reference” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005)

India Patent - SECTION 15

Power of Controller to refuse or require amended applications, etc., in certain case.—

Where the Controller is satisfied that the application or any specification or any other document filed in pursuance thereof does not comply with the requirements of this Act or of any rules made thereunder, the Controller may refuse the application or may require the application, specification or the other documents, as the case may be, to be amended to his satisfaction before he proceeds with the application and refuse the application on failure to do so.]

India Patent - SECTION 31

Anticipation by public display, etc.—

An invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only of—

(a) the display of the invention with the consent of the true and first inventor or a person deriving title from him at an industrial or other exhibition to which the provisions of this section have been extended by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette, or the use thereof with his consent for the purpose of such an exhibition in the place where it is held; or

(b) the publication of any description of the invention in consequence of the display or use of the invention at any such exhibition as aforesaid; or

(c) the use of the invention, after it has been displayed or used at any such exhibition as aforesaid and during the period of the exhibition, by any person without the consent of the true and first inventor or a person deriving title from him; or

(d) the description of the invention in a paper read by the true and first inventor before a learned society or published with his consent in the transactions of such a society, if the application for the patent is made by the true and first inventor or a person deriving title from him [not later than twelve months] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 26, for “not later than six months” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).  after the opening of the exhibition or the reading or publication of the paper, as the case may be.

India Patent - SECTION 30

Anticipation by previous communication to Government.—

An invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only of the communication of the invention to the Government or to any person authorized by the Government to investigate the invention or its merits, or of anything done, in consequence of such a communication, for the purpose of the investigation.

India Patent - SECTION 16

Power of Controller to make orders respecting division of application.—

(1) A person who has made an application for a patent under this Act may, at any time [before the grant] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 15, for “before the acceptance of the complete specification” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005). of the patent, if he so desires, or with a view to remedy the objection raised by the Controller on the ground that the claims of the complete specification relate to more than one invention, file a further application in respect of an invention disclosed in the provisional or complete specification already filed in respect of the first mentioned application. 

(2) The further application under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied by a complete specification, but such complete specification shall not include any matter not in substance disclosed in the complete specification filed in pursuance of the first mentioned application.

(3) The Controller may require such amendment of the complete specification filed in pursuance of either the original or the further application as may be necessary to ensure that neither of the said complete specifications includes a claim for any matter claimed in the other.

[Explanation.—For the purposes of this Act, the further application and the complete specification accompanying it shall be deemed to have been filed on the date on which the first mentioned application had been filed, and the further application shall be proceeded with as a substantive application and be examined when the request for examination is filed within the prescribed period].Subs. by s. 15, ibid., for the Explanation (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

India Patent - SECTION 32

Anticipation by public working.—

An invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only that at any time within one year before the priority date of the relevant claim of the specification, the invention was publicly worked in India—

(a) by the patentee or applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title; or

(b) by any other person with the consent of the patentee or applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title, if the working was effected for the purpose of reasonable trial only and if it was reasonably necessary, having regard to the nature of the invention, that the working for that purpose should be effected in public.

India Patent - SECTION 100

Power of Central Government to use inventions for purposes of Government.—

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, at any time after an application for a patent has been filed at the patent office or a patent has been granted, the Central Government and any person authorised in writing by it, may use the invention for the purposes of Government in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

(2) Where an invention has, before the priority date of the relevant claim of the complete specification, been duly recorded in a document, or tested or tried, by or on behalf of the Government or a Government undertaking, otherwise than in consequence of the communication of the invention directly or indirectly by the patentee or by a person from whom he derives title, any use of the invention by the Central Government or any person authorised in writing by it for the purposes of Government may be made free of any royalty or other remuneration to the patentee.

(3) If and so far as the invention has not been so recorded or tried or tested as aforesaid, any use of the invention made by the Central Government or any person authorised by it under sub-section (1), at any time after [grant of the patent] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 56, for “the acceptance of the complete specification in respect of the patent” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005) or in consequence of any such communication as aforesaid, shall be made upon terms as may be agreed upon either before or after the use, between the Central Government or any person authorised under sub-section (1) and the patentee, or, as may in default of agreement be determined by the High Court on a reference under section 103:

[Provided that in case of any such use of any patent, the patentee shall be paid not more than adequate remuneration in the circumstances of each case, taking into account the economic value of the use of the patent].Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 41, for the proviso (w.e.f. 20-5-2003).

(4) The authorisation by the Central Government in respect of an invention may be given under this section, either before or after the patent is granted and either before or after the acts in respect of which such authorisation is given or done, and may be given to any person whether or not he is authorised directly or indirectly by the applicant or the patentee to make, use, exercise or vend the invention or import the machine, apparatus or other article or medicine or drug covered by such patent.

(5) Where an invention has been used by or with the authority of the Central Government for the purposes of Government under this section, then, [except in case of national emergency or other circumstances of extreme urgency or for noncommercial use] Subs. by s. 41, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 20-5-2003), the Government shall notify the patentee as soon as practicable of the fact and furnish him with such information as to the extent of the use of the invention as he may, from time to time, reasonably require; and where the invention has been used for the purposes of a Government undertaking, the Central Government may call for such information as may be necessary for this purpose from such undertaking.

(6) The right to make, use, exercise and vend an invention for the purposes of Government under sub-section (1) shall include the [right to sell on noncommercial basis, the goods] Subs. by s. 41, ibid., for “right to sell the goods” (w.e.f. 20-5-2003) have been made in exercise of that right, and a purchaser of goods so sold, and a person claiming through him, shall have the power to deal with the goods as if the Central Government or the person authorised under sub-section (1) were the patentee of the invention.

(7) Where in respect of a patent which has been the subject of an authorisation under this section, there is an exclusive licensee as is referred to in sub-section (3) of section 101, or where such patent has been assigned to the patentee in consideration of royalties or other benefits determined by reference to the use of the invention (including payments by way of minimum royalty), the notice directed to be given under sub-section (5) shall also be given to such exclusive licensee or assignor, as the case may be, and the reference to the patentee in sub-section (3) shall be deemed to include a reference to such assignor or exclusive licensee.

India Patent - SECTION 101

Rights of third parties in respect of use of invention for purposes of Government.—

(1) In relation to any use of a patented invention, or an invention in respect of which an application for a patent is pending, made for the purposes of Government—

(a) by the Central Government or any person authorised by the Central Government under section 100; or

(b) by the patentee or applicant for the patent to the order made by the Central Government, the provisions of any licence, assignment or agreement granted or made *The words “, whether before or after the commencement of this Act,” omitted by Act 38 of 2002, s. 42 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003), between the patentee or applicant for the patent (or any person who derives title for him or from whom he derives title) and any person other then the Central Government shall be of no effect so far as those provisions—

(i) restrict or regulate the use for the purposes of Government of the invention, or of any model document or information relating thereto, or

(ii) provide for the making of payments in respect of any use of the invention or of the model, document or information relating thereto for the purposes of Government *The brackets and words “(including payments by way of minimum royalty)” omitted by s. 42, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-5-2003), and the reproduction or publication of any model or document in connection with the said use for the purposes of Government shall not be deemed to be an infringement of any copyright subsisting in the model or document.

(2) Where the patent, or the right to apply for or obtain the patent, has been assigned to the patentee in consideration of royalties or other benefits determined by reference to the use of the invention then, in relation to any use of the invention made for the purposes of Government by the patentee to the order of the Central Government, sub-section (3) of section 100 shall have effect as if that use were made by virtue of an authority given under that section; and use of the invention for the purposes of Government by virtue of sub-section (3) of that section shall have effect as if the reference to the patentee included a reference to the assignor of the patent, and any sum payable by virtue of that sub-section shall be divided between the patentee and the assignor in such proportion as may be agreed upon between them or as may in default of agreement be determined by the High Court on a reference under section 103.

(3) Where by virtue of sub-section (3) of section 100, payments are required to be made by the Central Government or persons authorised under sub-section (1) of that section in respect of the use of an invention for the purposes of Government and where in respect of such patent there is an exclusive licensee authorised under his licence to use the invention for the purposes of Government, such sum shall be shared by the patentee and such licensee in such proportions, if any, as may be agreed upon between them or as may in default of agreement be determined by the High Court on a reference under section 103 to be just, having regard to any expenditure incurred by the licensee—

(a) in developing the said invention; or

(b) in making payments to the patentees other than royalties or other benefits determined by reference to the use of the invention *The words “including payments by way of minimum royalty” omitted by Act 38 of 2002, s. 42 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003)​ in consideration of the licence.

India Patent - SECTION 103

Reference to High Court of disputes as to use for purposes of Government.—

(1) Any dispute as to the exercise by the Central Government or a person authorised by it of the powers conferred by section 100, or as to terms for the use of an invention for the purposes of Government thereunder or as to the right of any person to receive any part of a payment made in pursuance of sub-section (3) of that section or as to the amount of compensation payable for the acquisition of an invention or a patent under section 102, may be referred to the High Court by either party to the dispute in such manner as may be prescribed by the rules of the High Court.

(2) In any proceedings under this section to which the Central Government is a party, the Central Government may,—

(a) if the patentee is a party to the proceedings, petition by way of counter-claim for revocation of the patent on any ground upon which a patent may be revoked under section 64; and

(b) whether a patentee is or is not a party to the proceedings, put in issue the validity of the patent without petitioning for its revocation.

(3) If in such proceedings as aforesaid any question arises whether an invention has been recorded, tested or tried as is mentioned in section 100, and the disclosure of any document regarding the invention, or of any evidence of the test or trial thereof, would, in the opinion of the Central Government, be prejudicial to the public interest, the disclosure may be made confidentially to the advocate of the other party or to an independent expert mutually agreed upon.

(4) In determining under this section any dispute between the Central Government and any person as to terms for the use of an invention for the purposes of Government, the High Court shall have regard to any benefit or compensation which that person or any person from whom he derives title, may have received, or may be entitled to receive, directly or indirectly in respect of the use of the invention in question for the purposes of Government.

(5) In any proceedings under this section, the High Court may at any time order the whole proceedings or any question or issue of fact arising therein to be referred to an official referee, commissioner or an arbitrator on such terms as the High Court may direct, and references to the High Court in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be construed accordingly.

(6) Where the invention claimed in a patent was made by a person who at the time it was made was in the service of the Central Government or of a State Government or was an employee of a Government undertaking and the subject-matter of the invention is certified by the relevant Government or the principal officer of the Government undertaking to be connected with the work done in the course of the normal duties of the Government servant or employee of the Government undertaking, then, notwithstanding anything contained in this section, any dispute of the nature referred to in sub-section (1) relating to the invention shall be disposed of by the Central Government conformably to the provisions of this section so far as may be applicable, but before doing so the Central Government shall give an opportunity to the patentee and such other parties as it considers have an interest in the matter to be heard.

India Patent - SECTION 39

Residents not to apply for patents outside India without prior permission.—

(1) No person resident in India shall, except under the authority of a written permit sought in the manner prescribed and granted by or on behalf of the Controller, make or cause to be made any application outside India for the grant of a patent for an invention unless—

(a) an application for a patent for the same invention has been made in India, not less than six weeks before the application outside India; and

(b) either no direction has been given under sub-section (1) of section 35 in relation to the application in India, or all such directions have been revoked.

(2) The Controller shall dispose of every such application within such period as may be prescribed:

Provided that if the invention is relevant for defence purpose or atomic energy, the Controller shall not grant permit without the prior consent of the Central Government.

(3) This section shall not apply in relation to an invention for which an application for protection has first been filed in a country outside India by a person resident outside India].Subs by s. 31, ibid., for section 39 (w.e.f. 1-1-2005)

India Patent - SECTION 64

Revocation of patents.—

(1) Subject to the provisions contained in this Act, a patent, whether granted before or after the commencement of this Act, may, [be revoked on a petition of any person interested or of the Central Government by the [Appellate Board] The words “by the Appellate Board” omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 13 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) or on a counter-claim in a suit for infringement of the patent by the High Court] Subs. by s. 47, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 2-4-2007) on any of the following grounds, that is to say—

(a) that the invention, so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification, was claimed in a valid claim of earlier priority date contained in the complete specification of another patent granted in India;

(b) that the patent was granted on the application of a person not entitled under the provisions of this Act to apply therefor:

*The proviso omitted by Act 38 of 2002, s. 31 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003)

(c) that the patent was obtained wrongfully in contravention of the rights of the petitioner or any person under or through whom he claims;

(d) that the subject of any claim of the complete specification is not an invention within the meaning of this Act;

(e) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is not new, having regard to what was publicly known or publicly used in India before the priority date of the claim or to what was published in India or elsewhere in any of the, documents referred to in section 13:

*Subs. by s. 47, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 2-4-2007)

(f) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is obvious or does not involve any inventive step, having regard to what was publicly known or publicly used in India or what was published in India or elsewhere before the priority date of the claim:

*Subs. by s. 47, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 2-4-2007)

(g) that the invention, so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification, is not useful;

(h) that the complete specification does not sufficiently and fairly describe the invention and the method by which it is to be performed, that is to say, that the description of the method or the instructions for the working of the invention as contained in the complete specification are not by themselves sufficient to enable a person in India possessing average skill in, and average knowledge of, the art to which the invention relates, to work the invention, or that it does not disclose the best method of performing it which was known to the applicant for the patent and for which he was entitled to claim protection;

(i) that the scope of any claim of the complete specification is not sufficiently and clearly defined or that any claim of the complete specification is not fairly based on the matter disclosed in the specification;

(j) that the patent was obtained on a false suggestion or representation;

(k) that the subject of any claim of the complete specification is not patentable under this Act;

(l) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification was secretly used in India, otherwise than as mentioned in sub-section (3), before the priority date of the claim;

(m) that the applicant for the patent has failed to disclose to the Controller the information required by section 8 or has furnished information which in any material particular was false to his knowledge;

(n) that the applicant contravened any direction for secrecy passed under section 35 [or made or caused to be made an application for the grant of a patent outside India in contravention of section 39] Ins. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 31 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003);

(o) that leave to amend the complete specification under section 57 or section 58 was obtained by fraud.

[(p) that the complete specification does not disclose or wrongly mentions the source or geographical origin of biological material used for the invention;

(q) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification was anticipated having regard to the knowledge, oral or otherwise, available within any local or indigenous community in India or elsewhere] Ins. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 31 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003). 

(2) For the purposes of clauses (e) and (f) of sub-section (1)—,

(a) no account shall be taken of [personal document or secret trial or secret use] Subs. by s. 31, ibid., for “secret use” (w.e.f. 20-5-2003); and

(b) where the patent is for a process or for a product as made by a process described or claimed, the importation into India of the product made abroad by that process shall constitute knowledge or use in India of the invention on the date of the importation, except where such importation has been for the purpose of reasonable trial or experiment only.

(3) For the purpose of clause (1) of sub-section (1), no account shall be taken of any use of the invention—

(a) for the purpose of reasonable trial or experiment only; or

(b) by the Government or by any person authorised by the Government or by a Government undertaking, in consequence of the applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title having communicated or disclosed the invention directly or indirectly to the Government or person authorised as aforesaid or to the Government undertaking; or

(c) by any other person, in consequence of the applicant for the patent or any person from whom he derives title having communicated or disclosed the invention, and without the consent or acquiescence of the applicant or of any person from whom he derives title.

(4) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), a patent may be revoked by the High Court on the petition of the Central Government, if the High Court is satisfied that the patentee has without reasonable cause failed to comply with the request of the Central Government to make, use or exercise the patented invention for the purposes of Government within the meaning of section 99 upon reasonable terms.

(5) A notice of any petition for revocation of a patent under this section shall be served on all persons appearing from the register to be proprietors of that patent or to have shares or interests therein and it shall not be necessary to serve a notice on any other person. 

India Patent - SECTION 137

Multiple priorities.—

(1) Where two or more applications for patents in respect of inventions have been made in one or more convention countries and those inventions are so related as to constitute one invention, one application may be made by any or all of the persons referred to in sub-section (1) of section 135 within twelve months from the date on which the earlier or earliest of those applications was made, in respect of the inventions disclosed in the specifications which accompanied the basic applications.

(2) The priority date of a claim of the complete specification, being a claim based on matters disclosed in one or more of the basic applications, is the date on which that matter was first so disclosed.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, a matter shall be deemed to have been disclosed in a basic application for protection in a convention country if it was claimed or disclosed (otherwise than by way of disclaimer or acknowledgement of a prior art) in that application, or any documents submitted by the applicant for protection in support of and at the same time as that application but no account shall be taken of any disclosure effected by any such document unless a copy of the documents is filed at the patent office with the convention application or within such period as may be prescribed after the filing of that application.

India Patent - SECTION 134

Notification as to countries not providing for reciprocity.—

Where any country specified by the Central Government in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette does not accord to citizens of India the same rights in respect of the grant of patents and the protection of patent rights as it accords to its own nationals, no national of such country shall be entitled, either solely or jointly with any other person,—

(a) to apply for the grant of a patent or be registered as the proprietor of a patent;

(b) to be registered as the assignee of the proprietor of a patent; or

(c) to apply for a licence or hold any licence under a patent granted under this Act.

India Patent - SECTION 51

Power of Controller to give directions to co-owners.—

(1) Where two or more persons are registered as grantee or proprietor of a patent, the Controller may, upon application made to him in the prescribed manner by any of those persons, give such directions in accordance with the application as to the sale or lease of the patent or any interest therein, the grant of licenses under the patent, or the exercise of any right under section 50 in relation thereto, as he thinks fit.

(2) If any person registered as grantee or proprietor of a patent fails to execute any instrument or to do any other thing required for the carrying out of any direction given under this section within fourteen days after being requested in writing so to do by any of the other persons so registered, the Controller may, upon application made to him in the prescribed manner by any such other person, give directions empowering any person to execute that instrument or to do that thing in the name and on behalf of the person in default.

(3) Before giving any directions in pursuance of an application under this section, the Controller shall give an opportunity to be heard—

(a) in the case of an application under sub-section (1) to the other person or persons registered as grantee or proprietor of the patent;

(b) in the case of an application under sub-section (2), to the person in default.

(4) No direction shall be given under this section so as to affect the mutual rights or obligations of trustees or of the legal representatives of a deceased person or of their rights or obligations as such, or which is inconsistent with the terms of any agreement between persons registered as grantee or proprietor of the patent.

India Patent - SECTION 135

Convention applications.—

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in section 6, where a person has made an application for a patent in respect of an invention in a convention country (hereinafter referred to as the “basic application”), and that person or the legal representative or assignee of that person makes an application under this Act for a patent within twelve months after the date on which the basic application was made, the priority date of a claim of the complete specification, being a claim based on matter disclosed in the basic application, is the date of making of the basic application.

Explanation.—Where applications have been made for similar protection in respect of an invention in two or more convention countries, the period of twelve months referred to in this sub-section shall be reckoned from the date on which the earlier or earliest of the said applications was made.

(2) Where applications for protection have been made in one or more convention countries in respect of two or more inventions which are cognate or of which one is a modification of another, a single convention application may, subject to the provisions contained in section 10, be made in respect of those inventions at any time within twelve months from the date of the earliest of the said applications for protection:

Provided that the fee payable on the making of any such application shall be the same as if separate applications have been made in respect of each of the said inventions, and the requirements of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 136 shall, in the case of any such application, apply separately to the applications for protection in respect of each of the said inventions.

[(3) In case of an application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty designating India and claiming priority from a previously filed application in India, the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall apply as if the previously filed application were the basic application:

Provided that a request for examination under section 11B shall be made only for one of the applications filed in India.] Ins. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 69 (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

India Trademark - SECTION 5

Trade Marks Registry and offices thereof.—

(1) For the purposes of this Act, there shall be a trade marks registry and the Trade Marks Registry established under the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 (43 of 1958) shall be the Trade Marks Registry under this Act.

(2) The head office of the Trade Marks Registry shall be at such place as the Central Government may specify, and for the purpose of facilitating the registration of trade marks, there may be established at such places as the Central Government may think fit branch offices of the Trade Marks Registry.

(3) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, define the territorial limits within which an office of the Trade Marks Registry may exercise its functions.

(4) There shall be a seal of the Trade Marks Registry.

India Trademark - SECTION 23

Registration.

(1) Subject to the provisions of section 19, when an application for registration of a trade mark has been accepted and either—

(a) the application has not been opposed and the time for notice of opposition has expired; or

(b) the application has been opposed and the opposition has been decided in favour of the applicant,

the Registrar shall, unless the Central Government otherwise directs, register the said trade mark [within eighteen months of the filing of the application] Ins. by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 8-7-2013)​ and the trade mark when registered shall be registered as of the date of the making of the said application and that date shall, subject to the provisions of section 154, be deemed to be the date of registration.

(2) On the registration of a trade mark, the Registrar shall issue to the applicant a certificate in the prescribed form of the registration thereof, sealed with the seal of the Trade Marks Registry.

(3) Where registration of a trade mark is not completed within twelve months from the date of the application by reason of default on the part of the applicant, the Registrar may, after giving notice to the applicant in the prescribed manner, treat the application as abandoned unless it is completed within the time specified in that behalf in the notice.

(4) The Registrar may amend the register or a certificate of registration for the purpose of correcting a clerical error or an obvious mistake.

India Trademark - SECTION 107

Penalty for falsely representing a trade mark as registered.

(1) No person shall make any representation—

(a) with respect to a mark, not being a registered trade mark, to the effect that it is a registered trade mark; or

(b) with respect to a part of a registered trade mark, not being a part separately registered as a trade mark, to the effect that it is separately registered as a trade mark; or

(c) to the effect that a registered trade mark is registered in respect of any goods or services in respect of which it is not in fact registered; or

(d) to the effect that registration of a trade mark gives an exclusive right to the use thereof in any circumstances in which, having regard to limitation entered on the register, the registration does not in fact give that right.

(2) If any person contravenes any of the provisions of sub-section (1), he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the use in India in relation to a trade mark of the word ―registered‖, or of any other expression, symbol or sign referring whether expressly or impliedly to registration, shall be deemed to import a reference to registration in the register, except—

(a) where that word or other expression, symbol or sign is used in direct association with other words delineated in characters at least as large as those in which that word or other expression, symbol or sign is delineated and indicating that the reference is to registration as a trade mark under the law of a country outside India being a country under the law of which the registration referred to is in fact in force; or

(b) where that other expression, symbol or sign is of itself such as to indicate that the reference is to such registration as is mentioned in clause (a); or

(c) where that word is used in relation to a mark registered as a trade mark under the law of a country outside India and in relation solely to goods to be exported to that country or in relation to services for use in that country.

India Trademark - SECTION 134

Suit for infringement, etc., to be instituted before District Court.

(1) No suit—

(a) for the infringement of a registered trade mark; or

(b) relating to any right in a registered trade mark; or

(c) for passing off arising out of the use by the defendant of any trade mark which is identical with or deceptively similar to the plaintiff’s trade mark, whether registered or unregistered,

shall be instituted in any court inferior to a District Court having jurisdiction to try the suit.

(2) For the purpose of clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section (1), a ―District Court having jurisdiction‖ shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) or any other law for the time being in force, include a District Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction, at the time of the institution of the suit or other proceeding, the person instituting the suit or proceeding, or, where there are more than one such persons any of them, actually and voluntarily resides or carries on business or personally works for gain.

Explanation.—For the purposes of sub-section (2), ―person‖ includes the registered proprietor and the registered user.

India Trademark - SECTION 66

Any amendment of regulations referred to in sub-section (1) of section 63 shall not be effective unless the amended regulations are filed with the Registrar, and accepted and published by him in accordance with section 64.

India Trademark - SECTION 77

Controller to have certain powers of a civil court.—

(1) Subject to any rules made in this behalf, the Controller in any proceedings before him under this Act shall have the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely:—

(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;

(b) requiring the discovery and production of any document;

(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;

(d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;

(e) awarding costs;

(f) reviewing his own decision on application made within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner;

(g) setting aside an order passed ex- parte on application made within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner;

(h) any other matter which may be prescribed.

(2) Any order for costs awarded by the Controller in exercise of the powers conferred upon him under sub-section (1) shall be executable as a decree of a civil court.

India Patent - SECTION 73

Controller and other officers.—

(1) The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks appointed under sub-section (1) of [section 3 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 (47 of 1999)] Subs. by s. 35, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 20-5-2003)​, shall be the Controller of Patents for the purposes of this Act.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, the Central Government may appoint as many examiners and other officers and with such designations as it thinks fit.

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the officers appointed under subsection (2) shall discharge under the superintendence and directions of the Controller such functions of the Controller under this Act as he may, from time to time by general or special order in writing, authorise them to discharge.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (3), the Controller may, by order in writing and for reasons to be recorded therein withdraw any matter pending before an officer appointed under sub-section (2) and deal with such matter himself either de novo or from the stage it was so withdrawn or transfer the same to another officer appointed under sub-section (2) who may, subject to special directions in the order of transfer, proceed with the matter either de novo or from the stage it was so transferred.

India Patent - SECTION 20

Powers of Controller to make orders regarding substitution of applicants, etc.—

(1) If the Controller is satisfied, on a claim made in the prescribed manner at any time before a patent has been granted, that by virtue of any assignment or agreement in writing made by the applicant or one of the applicants for the patent or by operation of law, the claimant would, if the patent were then granted, be entitled thereto or to the interest of the applicant therein, or to an undivided share of the patent or of that interest, the Controller may, subject to the provisions of this section, direct that the application shall proceed in the name of the claimant or in the names of the claimants and the applicant or the other joint applicant or applicants, accordingly as the case may require.

(2) No such direction as aforesaid shall be given by virtue of any assignment or agreement made by one of two or more joint applicants for a patent except with the consent of the other joint applicant or applicants.

(3) No such direction as aforesaid shall be given by virtue of any assignment or agreement for the assignment of the benefit of an invention unless—

(a) the invention is identified therein by reference to the number of the application for the patent; or

(b) there is produced to the Controller an acknowledgement by the person by whom the assignment or agreement was made that the assignment or agreement relates to the invention in respect of which that application is made; or

(c) the rights of the claimant in respect of the invention have been finally established by the decision of a court; or

(d) the Controller gives directions for enabling the application to proceed or for regulating the manner in which it should be proceeded with under sub-section (5).

(4) Where one of two or more joint applicants for a patent dies at any time before the patent has been granted, the Controller may, upon a request in that behalf made by the survivor or survivors, and with the consent of the legal representative of the deceased, direct that the application shall proceed in the name of the survivor or survivors alone.

(5) If any dispute arises between joint applicants for a patent whether or in what manner the application should be proceeded with, the Controller may, upon application made to him in the prescribed manner by any of the parties, and after giving to all parties concerned an opportunity to be heard, give such directions as he thinks fit for enabling the application to proceed in the name of one or more of the parties alone or for regulating the manner in which it should be proceeded with, or for both those purposes, as the case may require.

India Patent - SECTION 133

Any country, which is a signatory or party or a group of countries, union of countries or intergovernmental organisations which are signatories or parties to an international, regional or bi-lateral treaty, convention or arrangement to which India is also a signatory or party and which affords to the applicants for patents in India or to citizens of India similar privileges as are granted to their own citizens or citizens to their member countries in respect of the grant of patents and protection of patent rights shall be a convention country or convention countries for the purposes of this Act.] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 68, for section 133 (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

India Patent - SECTION 116

[Appellate Board.] Omitted by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 (33 of 201), s. 13 (w.e.f. 4-4- 2021).

India Patent - SECTION 25

Opposition to the patent.—

(1) Where an application for a patent has been published but a patent has not been granted, any person may, in writing, represent by way of opposition to the Controller against the grant of patent on the ground—

(a) that the applicant for the patent or the person under or through whom he claims, wrongfully obtained the invention or any part thereof from him or from a person under or through whom he claims;

(b) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification has been published before the priority date of the claim—

(i) in any specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made in India on or after the 1st day of January, 1912; or

(ii) in India or elsewhere, in any other document:

Provided that the ground specified in sub-clause (ii) shall not be available where such publication does not constitute an anticipation of the invention by virtue of sub-section (2) or subsection (3) of section 29;

(c) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is claimed in a claim of a complete specification published on or after priority date of the applicant’s claim and filed in pursuance of an application for a patent in India, being a claim of which the priority date is earlier than that of the applicant’s claim;

(d) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification was publicly known or publicly used in India before the priority date of that claim.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, an invention relating to a process for which a patent is claimed shall be deemed to have been publicly known or publicly used in India before the priority date of the claim if a product made by that process had already been imported into India before that date except where such importation has been for the purpose of reasonable trial or experiment only;

(e) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is obvious and clearly does not involve any inventive step, having regard to the matter published as mentioned in clause (b) or having regard to what was used in India before the priority date of the applicant’s claim;

(f) that the subject of any claim of the complete specification is not an invention within the meaning of this Act, or is not patentable under this Act;

(g) that the complete specification does not sufficiently and clearly describe the invention or the method by which it is to be performed;

(h) that the applicant has failed to disclose to the Controller the information required by section 8 or has furnished the information which in any material particular was false to his knowledge;

(i) that in the case of a convention application, the application was not made within twelve months from the date of the first application for protection for the invention made in a convention country by the applicant or a person from whom he derives title;

(j) that the complete specification does not disclose or wrongly mentions the source or geographical origin of biological material used for the invention;

(k) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is anticipated having regard to the knowledge, oral or otherwise, available within any local or indigenous community in India or elsewhere, but on no other ground, and the Controller shall, if requested by such person for being heard, hear him and dispose of such representation in such manner and within such period as may be prescribed.

(2) At any time after the grant of patent but before the expiry of a period of one year from the date of publication of grant of a patent, any person interested may give notice of opposition to the Controller in the prescribed manner on any of the following grounds, namely:—

(a) that the patentee or the person under or through whom he claims, wrongfully obtained the invention or any part thereof from him or from a person under or through whom he claims;

(b) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification has been published before the priority date of the claim—

(i) in any specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made in India on or after the 1st day of January, 1912; or

(ii) in India or elsewhere, in any other document:

Provided that the ground specified in sub-clause (ii) shall not be available where such publication does not constitute an anticipation of the invention by virtue of sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 29;

(c) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is claimed in a claim of a complete specification published on or after the priority date of the claim of the patentee and filed in pursuance of an application for a patent in India, being a claim of which the priority date is earlier than that of the claim of the patentee;

(d) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification was publicly known or publicly used in India before the priority date of that claim.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this clause, an invention relating to a process for which a patent is granted shall be deemed to have been publicly known or publicly used in India before the priority date of the claim if a product made by that process had already been imported into India before that date except where such importation has been for the purpose of reasonable trial or experiment only;

(e) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification is obvious and clearly does not involve any inventive step, having regard to the matter published as mentioned in clause (b) or having regard to what was used in India before the priority date of the claim;

(f) that the subject of any claim of the complete specification is not an invention within the meaning of this Act, or is not patentable under this Act;

(g) that the complete specification does not sufficiently and clearly describe the invention or the method by which it is to be performed;

(h) that the patentee has failed to disclose to the Controller the information required by section 8 or has furnished the information which in any material particular was false to his knowledge;

(i) that in the case of a patent granted on a convention application, the application for patent was not made within twelve months from the date of the first application for protection for the invention made in a convention country or in India by the patentee or a person from whom he derives title;

(j) that the complete specification does not disclose or wrongly mentions the source and geographical origin of biological material used for the invention;

(k) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification was anticipated having regard to the knowledge, oral or otherwise, available within any local or indigenous community in India or elsewhere, but on no other ground.

(3) (a) Where any such notice of opposition is duly given under sub- section (2), the Controller shall notify the patentee.

(b) On receipt of such notice of opposition, the Controller shall, by order in writing, constitute a Board to be known as the Opposition Board consisting of such officers as he may determine and refer such notice of opposition along with the documents to that Board for examination and submission of its recommendations to the Controller.

(c) Every Opposition Board constituted under clause (b) shall conduct the examination in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.

(4) On receipt of the recommendation of the Opposition Board and after giving the patentee and the opponent an opportunity of being heard, the Controller shall order either to maintain or to amend or to revoke the patent.

(5) While passing an order under sub-section (4) in respect of the ground mentioned in clause (d) or clause (e) of sub-section (2), the Controller shall not take into account any personal document or secret trial or secret use.

(6) In case the Controller issues an order under sub-section (4) that the patent shall be maintained subject to amendment of the specification or any other document, the patent shall stand amended accordingly.

India Patent - SECTION 54

Patents of addition.—

(1)Subject to the provisions contained in this section, where an application is made for a patent in respect of any improvement in or modification of an invention described or disclosed in the complete specification filed therefor (in this Act referred to as the “main invention”) and the applicant also applies or has applied for a patent for that invention or is the patentee in respect thereof, the Controller may, if the applicant so requests, grant the patent for the improvement or modification as a patent of addition.

(2) Subject to the provisions contained in this section, where an invention, being an improvement in or modification of another invention, is the subject of an independent patent and the patentee in respect of that patent is also the patentee in respect of the patent for the main invention, the Controller may, if the patentee so requests, by order, revoke the patent for the improvement or modification and grant to the patentee a patent of addition in respect thereof, bearing the same date as the date of the patent so revoked.

(3) A patent shall not be granted as a patent of addition unless the date of filing of the [application] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 39, for “complete specification” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005) was the same as or later than the date of filing of the [application] in respect of the main invention.

[(4) A patent of addition shall not be granted before grant of the patent for the main invention] Subs. by s. 39, ibid., for sub-section (4) (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

India Patent - SECTION 74

Patent office and its branches.—

(1) For the purposes of this Act, there shall be an office which shall be known as the patent office.

[(2) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify the name of the Patent Office] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 50, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

(3) The head office of the patent office shall be at such place as the Central Government may specify, and for the purpose of facilitating the registration of patents there may be established, at such other places as the Central Government may think fit, branch offices of the patent office.

(4) There shall be a seal of the patent office.

India Patent - SECTION 11

Priority dates of claims of a complete specification.—

(1) There shall be a priority date for each claim of a complete specification. 

(2) Where a complete specification is filed in pursuance of a single application accompanied by— 

(a) a provisional specification; or 

(b) a specification which is treated by virtue of a direction under subsection (3) of section 9 as a provisional specification,and the claim is fairly based on the matter disclosed in the specification referred to in clause (a) or clause (b), the priority date of that claim shall be the date of the filing of the relevant specification.

(3) Where the complete specification is filed or proceeded with in pursuance of two or more applications accompanied by such specifications as are mentioned in sub-section (2) and the claim is fairly based on the matter disclosed— 

(a) in one of those specifications, the priority date of that claim shall be the date of the filing of the application accompanied by that specification; 

(b) partly in one and partly in another, the priority date of that claim shall be the date of the filing of the application accompanied by the specification of the later date. 

[(3A) Where a complete specification based on a previously filed application in India has been filed within twelve months from the date of that application and the claim is fairly based on the matter disclosed in the previously filed application, the priority date of that claim shall be the date of the previously filed application in which the matter was first disclosed].Ins. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 9 (w.e.f. 1-1-2005)

(4) Where the complete specification has been filed in pursuance of a further application made by virtue of sub-section (1) of section 16 and the claim is fairly based on the matter disclosed in any of the earlier specifications, provisional or complete, as the case may be, the priority date of that claim shall be the date of the filing of that specification in which the matter was first disclosed.  

(5) Where, under the foregoing provisions of this section, any claim of a complete specification would, but for the provisions of this sub-section, have two or more priority dates, the priority date of that claim shall be the earlier or earliest of those dates. 

(6) In any case to which sub-sections (2), (3), [(3A)]. Ins. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 9 (w.e.f. 1-1-2005), (4) and (5) do not apply, the priority date of a claim shall, subject to the provisions of section 137, be the date of filing of the complete specification. 

(7) The reference to the date of the filing of the application or of the complete specification in this section shall, in cases where there has been a post-dating under section 9 or section 17 or, as the case may be, an ante-dating under section 16, be a reference to the date as so post-dated or ante-dated.

(8) A claim in a complete specification of a patent shall not be invalid by reason only of— 

(a) the publication or use of the invention so far as claimed in that claim on or after the priority date of such claim; or 

(b) the grant of another patent which claims the invention, so far as claimed in the first mentioned claim, in a claim of the same or a later priority date.

India Patent - SECTION 67

Register of patents and particulars to be entered therein.—

(1) There shall be kept at the patent office a register of patents, wherein shall be entered—

(a) the names and addresses of grantees of patents;

(b) notifications of assignments, extension, and revocations of patents; and

(c) particulars of such other matters affecting the validity or proprietorship of patents as may be prescribed.

(2) No notice of any trust, whether express, implied or constructive, shall be entered in the register, and the Controller shall not be affected by any such notice.

(3) Subject to the superintendence and directions of the Central Government, the register shall be kept under the control and management of the Controller.

[(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), it shall be lawful for the Controller to keep the register of patents or any part thereof in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form subject to such safeguards as may be prescribed.

(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), a copy of, or extracts from, the register of patents, certified to be a true copy under the hand of the Controller or any officer duly authorised by the Controller in this behalf shall, in all legal proceedings, be admissible in evidence.

(6) In the event the register is kept wholly or partly in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form,—

(a) reference in this Act to an entry in the register shall be deemed to include reference to a record of particulars kept in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form and comprising the register or part of the register;

(b) references in this Act to particulars being registered or entered in the register shall be deemed to include references to the keeping of record of those particulars comprising the register or part of the register in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form; and

(c) references in this Act to the rectification of the register are to be read as including references to the rectification of the record of particulars kept in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form and comprising the register or part of the register] Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 32, for sub-section (4) (w.e.f. 20-5-2003).

India Patent - SECTION 47

Grant of patents to be subject to certain conditions.—

The grant of a patent under this Act shall be subject to the condition that—

(1) any machine, apparatus or other article in respect of which the patent is granted or any article made by using a process in respect of which the patent is granted, may be imported or made by or on behalf of the Government for the purpose merely of its own use;

(2) any process in respect of which the patent is granted may be used by or on behalf of the Government for the purpose merely of its own use;

(3) any machine, apparatus or other article in respect of which the patent is granted or any article made by the use of the process in respect of which the patent is granted, may be made or used, and any process in respect of which the patent is granted may be used, by any person, for the purpose merely of experiment or research including the imparting of instructions to pupils; and

(4) in the case of a patent in respect of any medicine or drug, the medicine or drug may be imported by the Government for the purpose merely of its own use or for distribution in any dispensary, hospital or other medical institution maintained by or on behalf of the Government or any other dispensary, hospital or other medical institution which the Central Government may, having regard to the public service that such dispensary, hospital or medical institution renders, specify in this behalf by notification in the Official Gazette.

India Patent - SECTION 50

Rights of co-owners of patents.—

(1) Where a patent is granted to two or more persons, each of those persons shall, unless an agreement to the contrary is in force, be entitled to an equal undivided share in the patent.

(2) Subject to the provisions contained in this section and in section 51, where two or more persons are registered as grantee or proprietor of a patent, then, unless an agreement to the contrary is in force, each of those persons shall be entitled, by himself or his agents, to [rights conferred by section 48] Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 26, for “make, use, exercise and sell the patented invention” (w.e.f. 20-5-2003) for his own benefit without accounting to the other person or persons.

(3) Subject to the provisions contained in this section and in section 51 and to any agreement for the time being in force, where two or more persons are registered as grantee or proprietor of a patent, then, a licence under the patent shall not be granted and share in the patent shall not be assigned by one of such persons except with the consent of the other person or persons.

(4) Where a patented article is sold by one of two or more persons registered as grantee or proprietor of a patent, the purchaser and any person claiming through him shall be entitled to deal with the article in the same manner as if the article had been sold by a sole patentee.

(5) Subject to the provisions contained in this section, the rules of law applicable to the ownership and devolution of movable property generally shall apply in relation to patents; and nothing contained in sub-section (1) or subsection (2) shall affect the mutual rights or obligations of trustees or of the legal representatives of a deceased person or their rights or obligations as such.

(6) Nothing in this section shall affect the rights of the assignees of a partial interest in a patent created before the commencement of this Act.

India Patent - SECTION 48

 Rights of patentees.—

Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act and the conditions specified in section 47, a patent granted under this Act shall confer upon the patentee—

(a) where the subject matter of the patent is a product, the exclusive right to prevent third parties, who do not have his consent, from the act of making, using, offering for sale, selling or importing for those purposes that product in India;

(b) where the subject matter of the patent is a process, the exclusive right to prevent third parties, who do not have his consent, from the act of using that process, and from the act of using, offering for sale, selling or importing for those purposes the product obtained directly by that process in India] Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 25, for section 48 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003).

*The proviso omitted by Act 15 of 2005, s. 36 (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

India Patent - SECTION 66

Revocation of patent in public interest.—

Where the Central Government is of opinion that a patent or the mode in which it is exercised is mischievous to the State or generally prejudicial to the public, it may, after giving the patentee an opportunity to be heard, make a declaration to that effect in the Official Gazette and thereupon the patent shall be deemed to be revoked.

India Patent - SECTION 18

Powers of Controller in cases of anticipation.—

(1) Where it appears to the Controller that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification has been anticipated in the manner referred to in clause (a) of sub section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 13, he may refuse [the application] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 17, for “to accept the complete specification” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005)​ unless the applicant—

(a) shows to the satisfaction of the Controller that the priority date of the claim of his complete specification is not later than the date on which the relevant document was published; or

(b) amends his complete specification to the satisfaction of the Controller.

(2) If it appears to the Controller that the invention is claimed in a claim of any other complete specification referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 13, he may, subject to the provisions hereinafter contained, direct that a reference to that other specification shall be inserted by way of notice to the public in the applicant’s complete specification unless within such time as may be prescribed,—

(a) the applicant shows to the satisfaction of the Controller that the priority date of his claim is not later than the priority date of the claim of the said other specification; or

(b) the complete specification is amended to the satisfaction of the Controller.

(3) If it appears to the Controller, as a result of an investigation under section 13 or otherwise,—

(a) that the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the applicant’s complete specification has been claimed in any other complete specification referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 13; and

(b) that such other complete specification was published on or after the priority date of the applicant’s claim, then, unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the Controller that the priority date of the applicant’s claim is not later than the priority date of the claim of that specification, the provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply thereto in the same manner as they apply to a specification published on or after the date of filing of the applicant’s complete specification.

(4) [Omitted] Sub-section (4) omitted by Act 15 of 2005, s. 17 (w.e.f. 1-1-2005)

India Patent - SECTION 19

 Powers of Controller in case of potential infringement.—

(1) If, in consequence of the investigations required [under this Act] Subs. by s. 18, ibid., for “by the foregoing provisions of this Act or of proceedings under section 25” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005)​, it appears to the Controller that an invention in respect of which an application for a patent has been made cannot be performed without substantial risk of infringement of a claim of any other patent, he may direct that a reference to that other patent shall be inserted in the applicant’s complete specification by way of notice to the public, unless within such time as may be prescribed—

(a) the applicant shows to the satisfaction of the Controller that there are reasonable grounds for contesting the validity of the said claim of the other patent; or

(b) the complete specification is amended to the satisfaction of the Controller.

(2) Where, after a reference to another patent has been inserted in a complete specification in pursuance of a direction under sub-section (1)—

(a) that other patent is revoked or otherwise ceases to be in force; or

(b) the specification of that other patent is amended by the deletion of the relevant claim; or

(c) it is found, in proceedings before the court or the Controller, that the relevant claim of that other patent is invalid or is not infringed by any working of the applicant’s invention, the Controller may, on the application of the applicant, delete the reference to that other patent.

India Patent - SECTION 28

Mention of inventor as such in patent.—

(1) If the Controller is satisfied, upon a request or claim made in accordance with the provisions of this section,—

(a) that the person in respect of or by whom the request or claim is made is the inventor of an invention in respect of which application for a patent has been made, or of a substantial part of that invention; and

(b) that the application for the patent is a direct consequence of his being the inventor, the Controller shall, subject to the provisions of this section, cause him to be mentioned as inventor in any patent granted in pursuance of the application in the complete specification and in the register of patents:

Provided that the mention of any person as inventor under this section shall not confer or derogate from any rights under the patent.

(2) A request that any person shall be mentioned as aforesaid may be made in the prescribed manner by the applicant for the patent or (where the person alleged to be the inventor is not the applicant or one of the applicants) by the applicant and that person.

(3) If any person [other than a person in respect of whom a request in relation to the application in question has been made under sub-section (2)] desires to be mentioned as aforesaid, he may make a claim in the prescribed manner in that behalf.

[(4) A request or claim under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made before the grant of patent] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 25, for sub-section (4) (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

(5) [Omitted by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005] Sub-section (5) omitted by s. 25, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-1-2005). 

(6) [Where] Subs. by s. 25, ibid., for “Subject to the provisions of sub-section (5), where” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005) a claim is made under sub-section (3), the Controller shall give notice of the claim to every applicant for the patent (not being the claimant) and to any other person whom the Controller may consider to be interested; and before deciding upon any request or claim made under sub-section (2), or subsection (3), the Controller shall, if required, hear the person in respect of or by whom the request or claim is made, and, in the case of a claim under sub-section (3), any person to whom notice of the claim has been given as aforesaid.

(7) Where any person has been mentioned as inventor in pursuance of this section, any other person who alleges that he ought not to have been so mentioned may at any time apply to the Controller for a certificate to that effect, and the Controller may, after hearing, if required, any person whom he may consider to be interested, issue such a certificate, and if he does so, he shall rectify the specification and the register accordingly.

India Patent - SECTION 60

Applications for restorations of lapsed patents.—

(1) Where a patent has ceased to have effect by reason of failure to pay any renewal fee within [the period prescribed under section 53 or within such period as may be allowed under sub-section (4) of section 142] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 43, for “prescribed period or within that period as extended under sub-section (3) of section 53” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005), the patentee or his legal representative, and where the patent was held by two or more persons jointly, then, with the leave of the Controller, one or more of them without joining the others, may, within [eighteen months] Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 30, for “one year” (w.e.f. 20-5-2003) from the date on which the patent ceased to have effect, make an application for the restoration of the patent.

(2) [Omitted by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002] Sub-section (2) omitted by s. 30, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-5-2003)

(3) An application under this section shall contain a statement, verified in the prescribed manner, fully setting out the circumstances which led to the failure to pay the prescribed fee, and the Controller may require from the applicant such further evidence as he may think necessary.

India Patent - SECTION 61

Procedure for disposal of applications for restoration of lapsed patents.—

(1) If, after hearing the applicant in cases where the Applicant so desires or the Controller thinks fit, the Controller is prima facie satisfied that the failure to pay the renewal fee was unintentional and that there has been no undue delay in the making of the application, he shall [publish the application] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 44, for “advertise the application” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005)​ in the prescribed manner; and within the prescribed period any person interested may give notice to the Controller of opposition thereto on either or both of the following grounds, that is to say,—

(a) that the failure to pay the renewal fee was not unintentional; or

(b) that there has been undue delay in the making of the application.

(2) If notice of opposition is given within the period aforesaid, the Controller shall notify the applicant, and shall give to him and to the opponent an opportunity to be heard before he decides the case.

(3) If no notice of opposition is given within the period aforesaid or if in the case of opposition, the decision of the Controller is in favour of the applicant, the Controller shall, upon payment of any unpaid renewal fee and such additional fee as may be prescribed, restore the patent and any patent of addition specified in the application which has ceased to have effect on the cesser of that patent.

(4) The Controller may, if he thinks fit as a condition of restoring the patent, require that an entry shall be made in the register of any document or matter which, under the provisions of this Act, has to be entered in the register but which has not been so entered.

India Patent - SECTION 63

Surrender of patents.—

(1) A patentee may, at any time by giving notice in the prescribed manner to the Controller, offer to surrender his patent.

(2) Where such an offer is made, the Controller shall [publish] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 46, for “advertise” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005) the offer in the prescribed manner, and also notify every person other than the patentee whose name appears in the register as having an interest in the patent.

(3) Any person interested may, within the prescribed period after [such publication] Subs. by s. 46, ibid., for “such advertisement” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005), give notice to the Controller of opposition to the surrender, and where any such notice is given the Controller shall notify the patentee.

(4) If the Controller is satisfied after hearing the patentee and any opponent, if desirous of being heard, that the patent may properly be surrendered, he may accept the offer and, by order, revoke the patent.

India Patent - SECTION 69

Registration of assignments, transmissions, etc.—

(1) Where any person becomes entitled by assignment, transmission or operation of law to a patent or to a share in a patent or becomes entitled as a mortgagee, licensee or otherwise to any other interest in a patent, he shall apply in writing in the prescribed manner to the Controller for the registration of his title or, as the case may be, of notice of his interest in the register.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), an application for the registration of the title of any person becoming entitled by assignment to a patent or a share in a patent or becoming entitled by virtue of a mortgage, licence or other instrument to any other interest in a patent may be made in the prescribed manner by the assignor, mortgagor, licensor or other party to that instrument, as the case may be.

(3) Where an application is made under this section for the registration of the title of any person the Controller shall, upon proof to title of his satisfaction,—

(a) where that person is entitled to a patent or a share in a patent, register him in the register as proprietor or co-proprietor of the patent, and enter in the register particulars of the instrument or even by which he derives title; or

(b) where that person is entitled to any other interest in the patent, enter in the register notice of his interest, with particulars of the instrument, if any, creating it:

Provided that if there is any dispute between the parties whether the assignment, mortgage, licence, transmission, operation of law or any other such transaction has validly vested in such person a title to the patent or any share or interest therein, the Controller may refuse to take any action under clause (a) or, as the case may be, under clause (b), until the rights of the parties have been determined by a competent court.

(4) There shall be supplied to the Controller in the prescribed manner for being filed in the patent office copies of all agreements, licences and other documents affecting the title to any patent or any licence thereunder authenticated in the prescribed manner and also such other documents as may be prescribed relevant to the subject matter:

Provided that in the case of a licence granted under a patent, the Controller shall, if so requested by the patentee or licensee, take steps for securing that the terms of the licence are not disclosed to any person except under the order of a court.

(5) Except for the purposes of an application under sub-section (1) or of an application to rectify the register, a document in respect of which no entry has been made in the register under sub-section (3) shall not be admitted by the Controller or by any court as evidence of the title of any person to a patent or to a share or interest therein unless the Controller or the court, for reasons to be recorded in writing, otherwise directs.

India Patent - SECTION 34

No anticipation if circumstances are only as described in sections 29, 30, 31 and 32.—

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Controller shall not refuse *The words “to accept complete specification for a patent or” omitted by Act 15 of 2005, s. 27 (w.e.f. 1-1-2005) to grant a patent, and a patent shall not be revoked or invalidated by reason only of any circumstances which, by virtue of section 29 or section 30 or section 31 or section 32, do not constitute an anticipation of the invention claimed in the specification.

India Patent - SECTION 78

Power of Controller to correct clerical errors etc.—

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sections 57 and 59 as regards amendment of applications for patents or complete specifications [or other documents related thereto] Ins. by s. 37, ibid. (w.e.f. 20-5-2003) and subject to the provisions of section 44, the Controller may, in accordance with the provisions of this section, correct any clerical error in any patent or in any specification or other document filed in pursuance of such application or in any application for a patent or any clerical error in any matter which is entered in the register. 

(2) A correction may be made in pursuance of this section either upon a request in writing made by any person interested and accompanied by the prescribed fee, or without such a request.

(3) Where the Controller proposes to make any such correction as aforesaid otherwise than in pursuance of a request made under this section, he shall give notice of the proposal to the patentee or the applicant for the patent, as the case may be, and to any other person who appears to him to be concerned, and shall give them an opportunity to be heard before making the correction.

(4) Where a request is made under this section for the correction of any error in a patent or application for a patent or any document filed in pursuance of such an application, and it appears to the Controller that the correction would materially alter the meaning or scope of the document to which the request relates and ought not to be made without notice to persons affected thereby, he shall require notice of the nature of the proposed correction to be [published] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 51, for “advertised” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005) in the prescribed manner.

(5) Within the prescribed time after any [such publication] Subs. by s. 51, ibid., for “such advertisement” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005)  as aforesaid any person interested may give notice to the Controller of opposition to the request, and, where such notice of opposition is given, the Controller shall give notice thereof to the person by whom the request was made, and shall give to him and to the opponent an opportunity to be heard before he decides the case.

India Patent - SECTION 91

Licensing of related patents.—

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the other provisions of this Chapter, at any time after the sealing of a patent, any person who has the right to work any other patented invention either as patentee or as licensee thereof, exclusive or otherwise, may apply to the Controller for the grant of a licence of the first mentioned patent on the ground that he is prevented or hindered without such licence from working the other invention efficiently or to the best advantage possible.

(2) No order under sub-section (1) shall be made unless the Controller is satisfied—

(i) that the applicant is able and willing to grant, or procure the grant to the patentee and his licensees if they so desire, of a licence in respect of the other invention on reasonable terms; and

(ii) that the other invention has made a substantial contribution to the establishment or development of commercial or industrial activities in the territory of India.

(3) When the Controller is satisfied that the conditions mentioned in sub-section (1) have been established by the applicant, he may make an order on such terms as he thinks fit granting a licence under the first mentioned patent and a similar order under the other patent if so requested by the proprietor of the first mentioned patent or his licensee:

Provided that the licence granted by the Controller shall be non-assignable except with the assignment of the respective patents.

(4) The provisions of sections 87, 88, 89 and 90 shall apply to licences granted under this section as they apply to licences granted under section 84.

India Patent - SECTION 92

Special provision for compulsory licences on notifications by Central Government.—

(1) If the Central Government is satisfied, in respect of any patent in force in circumstances of national emergency or in circumstances of extreme urgency or in case of public non-commercial use, that it is necessary that compulsory licenses should be granted at any time after the sealing thereof to work the invention, it may make a declaration to that effect, by notification in the Official Gazette, and thereupon the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say—

(i) the Controller shall on application made at any time after the notification by any person interested, grant to the applicant a licence under the patent on such terms and conditions as he thinks fit;

(ii) in settling the terms and conditions of a licence granted under this section, the Controller shall endeavour to secure that the articles manufactured under the patent shall be available to the public at the lowest prices consistent with the patentees deriving a reasonable advantage from their patent rights.

(2) The provisions of sections 83, 87, 88, 89 and 90 shall apply in relation to the grant of licences under this section as they apply in relation to the grant of licences under section 84.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), where the Controller is satisfied on consideration of the application referred to in clause (i) of sub-section (1) that it is necessary in—

(i) a circumstance of national emergency; or

(ii) a circumstance of extreme urgency; or

(iii) a case of public non-commercial use, which may arise or is required, as the case may be, including public health crises, relating to Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, Human Immuno Deficiency Virus, tuberculosis, malaria or other epidemics, he shall not apply any procedure specified in section 87 in relation to that application for grant of licence under this section:

Provided that the Controller shall, as soon as may be practicable, inform the patentee of the patent relating to the application for such non-application of section 87.

92A. Compulsory licence for export of patented pharmaceutical products in certain exceptional circumstances.—

(1) Compulsory licence shall be available for manufacture and export of patented pharmaceutical products to any country having insufficient or no manufacturing capacity in the pharmaceutical sector for the concerned product to address public health problems, provided compulsory licence has been granted by such country or such country has, by notification or otherwise, allowed importation of the patented pharmaceutical products from India.

(2) The Controller shall, on receipt of an application in the prescribed manner, grant a compulsory licence solely for manufacture and export of the concerned pharmaceutical product to such country under such terms and conditions as may be specified and published by him.

(3) The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall be without prejudice to the extent to which pharmaceutical products produced under a compulsory license can be exported under any other provision of this Act.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, ‘pharmaceutical products’ means any patented product, or product manufactured through a patented process, of the pharmaceutical sector needed to address public health problems and shall be inclusive of ingredients necessary for their manufacture and diagnostic kits required for their use.

India Patent - SECTION 94

 Termination of compulsory licence.—

(1) On an application made by the patentee or any other person deriving title or interest in the patent, a compulsory licence granted under section 84 may be terminated by the controller, if and when the circumstances that gave rise to the grant thereof no longer exist and such circumstances are unlikely to recur:

Provided that the holder of the compulsory licence shall have the right to object to such termination.

(2) While considering an application under section (1), the Controller shall take into account that the interest of the person who had previously been granted the licence is not unduly prejudiced].

India Patent - SECTION 95

Conditions as to making of interim orders.

Omitted by The Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021 (33 of 2021), s. 21 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021).

India Patent - SECTION 96

Power of [Chairperson] Subs. by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21, for “APPELLATE BOARD” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) to transfer cases from one Bench to another.

Omitted by s. 21, ibid. (w.e.f. 4-4-2021).

India Patent - SECTION 117A

[Staff of Appellate Board.] Omitted by s. 13, ibid. (w.e.f. 4-4-2021).

India Patent - SECTION 104

Jurisdiction.—

No suit for a declaration under section 105 or for any relief under section 106 or for infringement of a patent shall be instituted in any court inferior to a district court having jurisdiction to try the suit:

Provided that where a counter-claim for revocation of the patent is made by the defendant, the suit, along with the counter-claim, shall be transferred to the High Court for decision.

India Patent - SECTION 106

Power of court to grant relief in cases of groundless threats of infringement proceedings.—

(1) Where any person (whether entitled to or interested in a patent or an application for patent or not) threatens any other person by circulars or advertisements or by communications, oral or in writing addressed to that or any other person, with proceedings for infringement of a patent, any person aggrieved thereby may bring a suit against him praying for the following reliefs, that is to say—

(a) a declaration to the effect that the threats are unjustifiable;

(b) an injunction against the continuance of the threats; and

(c) such damages, if any, as he has sustained thereby.

(2) Unless in such suit the defendant proves that the acts in respect of which the proceedings were threatened constitute or, if done, would constitute, an infringement of a patent or of rights arising from the publication of a complete specification in respect of a claim of the specification not shown by the plaintiff to be invalid the court may grant to the plaintiff all or any of the reliefs prayed for.

Explanation.—A mere notification of the [existence] Subs. by Act 56 of 1974, s. 3 and the Second Schedule, for “existing” (w.e.f. 20-12-1974)​ of a patent does not constitute a threat of proceeding within the meaning of this section.

India Trademark - SECTION 112

Exemption of certain persons employed in ordinary course of business.

Where a person accused of an offence under section 103 proves—

(a) that in the ordinary course of his business he is employed on behalf of other persons to apply trade marks or trade descriptions, or as the case may be, to make dies, blocks, machines, plates, or other instruments for making, or being used in making, trade marks; and

(b) that in the case which is the subject of the charge he was so employed, and was not interested in the goods or other thing by way of profit or commission dependent on the sale of such goods or providing of services, as the case may be; and

(c) that, having taken all reasonable precautions against committing the offence charged, he had, at the time of the commission of the alleged offence, no reason to suspect the genuineness of the trade mark or trade description; and

(d) that, on demand made by or on behalf of the prosecutor, he gave all the information in his power with respect to the persons on whose behalf the trade mark or trade description was applied,

he shall be acquitted.

India Patent - SECTION 44

Amendment of patent granted to deceased applicant.—

Where, at any time after a patent has been [granted]Subs. by s. 34, ibid., for “sealed” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005) in pursuance of an application under this Act, the Controller is satisfied that the person to whom the patent was granted had died, or, in the case of a body corporate, had ceased to exist, before the patent was [granted]Subs. by s. 34, ibid., for “sealed” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005), the Controller may amend the patent by substituting for the name of that person the name of the person to whom the patent ought to have been granted, and the patent shall have effect, and shall be deemed always to have had effect, accordingly.

India Patent - SECTION 59

Supplementary provisions as to amendment of application or specification.—

[(1) No amendment of an application for a patent or a complete specification or any document relating thereto shall be made except by way of disclaimer, correction or explanation, and no amendment thereof shall be allowed, except for the purpose of incorporation of actual fact, and no amendment of a complete specification shall be allowed, the effect of which would be that the specification as amended would claim or describe matter not in substance disclosed or shown in the specification before the amendment, or that any claim of the specification as amended would not fall wholly within the scope of a claim of the specification before the amendment] Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 29, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 20-5-2003).

[(2) Where after the date of grant of patent any amendment of the specification or any other documents related thereto is allowed by the Controller or by the [Appellate Board] The words “the Appellate Board or” omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 13 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) or the High Court, as the case may be,—

(a) the amendment shall for all purposes be deemed to form part of the specification along with other documents related thereto;

(b) the fact that the specification or any other documents related thereto has been amended shall be published as expeditiously as possible; and

(c) the right of the applicant or patentee to make amendment shall not be called in question except on the ground of fraud] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 42, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 2-4-2007).

(3) In construing the specification as amended, reference may be made to the specification as originally accepted.

India Patent - SECTION 53

Term of patent.—

[(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the term of every patent granted, after the commencement of the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002, and the term of every patent which has not expired and has not ceased to have effect, on the date of such commencement, under this Act, shall be twenty years from the date of filing of the application for the patent] Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 27, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 20-5-2003). 

[Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the term of patent in case of International applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty designating India, shall be twenty years from the international filing date accorded under the Patent Cooperation Treaty] The Explanation ins. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 38 (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

(2) A patent shall cease to have effect notwithstanding anything therein or in this Act on the expiration of the period prescribed for the payment of any renewal fee, if that fee is not paid within the prescribed period [or within such extended period as may be prescribed] Subs. by s. 38, ibid., for “or within that period as extended under this section” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

(3) [Omitted by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005]Sub-section (3) omitted by s. 38, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

[(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, on cessation of the patent right due to non-payment of renewal fee or on expiry of the term of patent, the subject matter covered by the said patent shall not be entitled to any protection] Ins. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 27 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003).

India Patent - SECTION 142

Fees.—

(1) There shall be paid in respect of the grant of patents and applications therefor, and in respect of other matters in relation to the grant of patents under this Act, such fees as may be prescribed by the Central Government.

(2) Where a fee is payable in respect of the doing of an act by the Controller, the Controller shall not do that act until the fee has been paid.

[(3) Where a fee is payable in respect of the filing of a document at the patent office, the fee shall be paid along with the document or within the prescribed time and the document shall be deemed not to have been filed at the office if the fee has not been paid within such time.] Subs. by s. 61, ibid., for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 20-5-2003)

(4) Where a principal patent is granted later than two years from the date of the filing of [the application] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 71, for “the complete specification” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005), the fees which have become due in the meantime may be paid within a term of three months from the date of the recording of the patent in the register [or within the extended period not later than nine months from the date of recording.] Ins. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 61 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003).

India Patent - SECTION 8

Information and undertaking regarding foreign applications.—

(1) Where an applicant for a patent under this Act is prosecuting either alone or jointly with any other person an application for a patent in any country outside India in respect of the same or substantially the same invention, or where to his knowledge such an application is being prosecuted by some person through whom he claims or by some person deriving title from him, he shall file along with his application or subsequently [within the prescribed period as the Controller may allow] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 6, for certain words— 

(a) a statement setting out detailed particulars of such application;.Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 7, for clause (a), and 

(b) an undertaking that, [up to the date of grant of patent in India] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 6, for “up to the date of the acceptance of his complete specification filed in India, he would keep the Controller informed in writing, from time to time, of [detailed particulars as required under]  Subs. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 7, for “details of the nature referred to in” clause (a) in respect of every other application relating to the same or substantially the same invention, if any, filed in any country outside India subsequently to the filing of the statement referred to in the aforesaid clause, within the prescribed time. 

(2) At any time after an application for patent is filed in India and till the grant of a patent or refusal to grant of a patent made thereon, the Controller may also require the applicant to furnish details, as may be prescribed, relating to the processing of the application in a country outside India, and in that event the applicant shall furnish to the Controller information available to him within such period as may be prescribed.Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 6, for sub-section (2)

India Patent - SECTION 57

Amendment of application and specification or any document relating thereto before Controller.—

(1) Subject to the provisions of section 59, the Controller may, upon application made under this section in the prescribed manner by an applicant for a patent or by a patentee, allow the application for the patent or the complete specification [or any document relating thereto] Ins. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 28 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003) to be amended subject to such conditions, if any, as the Controller thinks fit:

Provided that the Controller shall not pass any order allowing or refusing an application to amend an application for a patent or a specification [or any document relating thereto] Ins. by Act 38 of 2002, s. 28 (w.e.f. 20-5-2003) under this section while any suit before a court for the infringement of the patent or any proceeding before the High Court for the revocation of the patent is pending, whether the suit or proceeding commenced before or after the filing of the application to amend.

(2) Every application for leave to amend an application for a patent [or a complete specification or any document relating thereto] Subs. by s. 28, ibid., for “or a specification” (w.e.f. 20-5-2003) under this section shall state the nature of the proposed amendment, and shall give full particulars of the reasons for which the application is made.

[(3) Any application for leave to amend an application for a patent or a complete specification or a document related thereto under this section made after the grant of patent and the nature of the proposed amendment may be published].Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 40, for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 1-1-2005)

(4) Where an application is [published] Subs. by s. 40, ibid., for “advertised” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005) under sub-section (3), any person interested may, within the prescribed period after the [publication] Subs. by s. 40, ibid., for “advertisement” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005) thereof, give notice to the Controller of opposition thereto; and where such a notice is given within the period aforesaid, the Controller shall notify the person by whom the application under this section is made and shall give to that person and to the opponent an opportunity to be heard before he decides the case.

(5) An amendment under this section of a complete specification may be, or include, an amendment of the priority date of a claim.

[(6) The provisions of this section shall be without prejudice to the right of an applicant for a patent to amend his specification or any other document related thereto to comply with the directions of the Controller issued before the grant of a patent] Subs. by s. 40, ibid., for sub-section (6) (w.e.f 1-1-2005).

India Patent - SECTION 58

Amendment of specification before Appellate Board or High Court.—

(1) In any proceeding before the [Appellate Board] The word “the Appellate Board” omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 13 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) or the High Court for the revocation of a patent, the [Appellate Board] The word “the Appellate Board” omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 13 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) or the High Court, [as the case may be]The words “as the case may be” omitted by s. 13, ibid. (w.e.f. 4-4-2021), may, subject to the provisions contained in section 59, allow the patentee to amend his complete specification in such manner and subject to such terms as to costs, advertisement or otherwise, as the [Appellate Board] The word “the Appellate Board” omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 13 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) or the High Court may think fit, and if, in any proceedings for revocation the [Appellate Board] The word “the Appellate Board” omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 13 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) or the High Court decides that the patent is invalid, it may allow the specification to be amended under this section instead of revoking the patent. 

(2) Where an application for an order under this section is made to the [Appellate Board] The word “the Appellate Board” omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 13 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) or the High Court, the applicant shall give notice of the application to the Controller, and the Controller shall be entitled to appear and be heard, and shall appear if so directed by the Appellate Board or the High Court.

(3) Copies of all orders of the [Appellate Board] or the High Court allowing the patentee to amend the specification shall be transmitted by the [Appellate Board] The word “the Appellate Board” omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 13 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) or the High Court to the Controller who shall, on receipt thereof, cause an entry thereof and reference thereto to be made in the register] Subs. by s. 41, ibid., for section 58 (w.e.f. 2-4-2007).

India Patent - SECTION 99

Meaning of use of invention for purposes of Government.—

(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, an invention is said to be used for the purposes of Government if it is made, used, exercised or vended for the purposes of the Central Government, a State Government or a Government undertaking.

(2) [Omitted by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002]

(3) Nothing contained in this Chapter shall apply in respect of any such importation, making or using of any machine, apparatus or other article or of any such using of any process or of any such importation, using or distribution of any medicine or drug, as may be made by virtue of one or more of the conditions specified in section 47.

India Patent - SECTION 84

Compulsory licences.—

(1) At any time after the expiration of three years from the date of the [grant] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 52, for “sealing” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005) of a patent, any person interested may make an application to the Controller for grant of compulsory licence on patent on any of the following grounds, namely:—

(a) that the reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention have not been satisfied,or

(b) that the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price, or

(c) that the patented invention is not worked in the territory of India.

(2) An application under this section may be made by any person notwithstanding that he is already the holder of a licence under the patent and no person shall be stopped from alleging that the reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention are not satisfied or that the patented invention is not worked in the territory of India or that the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price by reason of any admission made by him, whether in such a licence or otherwise or by reason of his having accepted such a licence.

(3) Every application under sub-section (1) shall contain a statement setting out the nature of the applicant’s interest together with such particulars as may be prescribed and the facts upon which the application is based.

(4) The Controller, if satisfied that the reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention have not been satisfied or that the patented invention is not worked in the territory of India or that the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price, may grant a licence upon such terms as he may deem fit.

(5) Where the Controller directs the patentee to grant a licence he may, as incidental thereto, exercise the powers set out in section 88.

(6) In considering the application field under this section, the Controller shall take into account,—

(i) the nature of the invention, the time which has elapsed since the sealing of the patent and the measures already taken by the patentee or any licensee to make full use of the invention;

(ii) the ability of the applicant to work the invention to the public advantage;

(iii) the capacity of the applicant to undertake the risk in providing capital and working the invention, if the application were granted;

(iv) as to whether the applicant has made efforts to obtain a licence from the patentee on reasonable terms and conditions and such efforts have not been successful within a reasonable period as the Controller may deem fit:

Provided that this clause shall not be applicable in case of national emergency or other circumstances of extreme urgency or in case of public non-commercial use or on establishment of a ground of anticompetitive practices adopted by the patentee, but shall not be required to take into account matters subsequent to the making of the application.

[Explanation.—For the purposes of clause (iv), “reasonable period” shall be construed as a period not ordinarily exceeding a period of six months] The Explanation ins. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 52 (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

(7) For the purposes of this Chapter, the reasonable requirements of the public shall be deemed not to have been satisfied—

(a) if, by reason of the refusal of the patentee to grant a licence or licences on reasonable terms,—

(i) an existing trade or industry or the development thereof or the establishment of any new trade or industry in India or the trade or industry of any person or class of persons trading or manufacturing in India is prejudiced; or

(ii) the demand for the patented article has not been met to an adequate extent or on reasonable terms; or

(iii) a market for export of the patented article manufactured in India is not being supplied or developed; or

(iv) the establishment or development of commercial activities in India is prejudiced; or

(b) if, by reason of conditions imposed by the patentee upon the grant of licences under the patent or upon the purchase, hire or use of the patented article or process, the manufacture, use or sale of materials not protected by the patent, or the establishment or development of any trade or industry in India, is prejudiced; or

(c) if the patentee imposes a condition upon the grant of licences under the patent to provide exclusive grant back, prevention to challenges to the validity of patent or coercive package licensing; or

(d) if the patented invention is not being worked in the territory of India on a commercial scale to an adequate extent or is not being so worked to the fullest extent that is reasonably practicable; or

(e) if the working of the patented invention in the territory of India on a commercial scale is being prevented or hindered by the importation from abroad of the patented article by—

(i) the patentee or persons claiming under him or

(ii) persons directly or indirectly purchasing from him; or

(iii) other persons against whom the patentee is not taking or has not taken proceedings for infringement.

India Patent - SECTION 105

Power of court to make declaration as to non-infringement.—

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 34 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 (47 of 1963), any person may institute a suit for a declaration that the use by him of any process, or the making, use or sale of any article by him does not,or would not, constitute an infringement of a claim of a patent against the patentee or the holder of an exclusive licence under the patent, notwithstanding that no assertion to the contrary has been made by the patentee or the licensee,if it is shown—

(a) that the plaintiff has applied in writing to the patentee or exclusive licensee for a’ written acknowledgements to the effect of the declaration claimed and has furnished him with full particulars in writing of the process or article in question; and

(b) that the patentee or licensee has refused or neglected to give such an acknowledgement.

(2) The costs of all parties in a suit for a declaration brought by virtue of this section shall, unless for special reasons the court thinks fit to order otherwise, be paid by the plaintiff.

(3) The validity of a claim of the specification of a patent shall not be called in question in a suit for a declaration brought by virtue of this section, and accordingly the making or refusal of such a declaration in the case of a patent shall not be deemed to imply that the patent is valid or invalid.

(4) A suit for a declaration may be brought by virtue of this section at any time [after the publication of grant of a patent] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 57, for certain words (w.e.f. 1-1-2005), and references in this section to the patentee shall be construed accordingly.

India Patent - SECTION 85

Revocation of patents by the Controller for non-working.—

(1) Where, in respect of a patent, a compulsory licence has been granted, the Central Government or any person interested may, after the expiration of two years from the date of the order granting the first compulsory licence, apply to the Controller for an order revoking the patent on the ground that the patented invention has not been worked in the territory of India or that reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention has not been satisfied or that the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price.

(2) Every application under sub-section (1) shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed, the facts upon which the application is based, and, in the case of an application other than by the Central Government, shall also set out the nature of the applicant’s interest.

(3) The Controller, if satisfied that the reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention have not been satisfied or that patented invention has not been worked in the territory of India or that the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price, may make an order revoking the patent.

(4) Every application under sub-section (1) shall ordinarily be decided within one year of its being presented to the Controller.

India Patent - SECTION 87

Procedure for dealing with applications under sections 84 and 85.—

(1) Where the Controller is satisfied, upon consideration of an application under section 84, Or section 85, that a prima facie case has been made out for the making of an order, he shall direct the applicant to serve copies of the application upon the patentee and any other person appearing from the register to be interested in the patent in respect of which the application is made, and [shall publish the application in the official journal] Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 53, for “shall advertise the application in the Official Gazette” (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

(2) The patentee or any other person desiring to oppose the application may, within such time as may be prescribed or within such further time as the Controller may on application (made either before or after the expiration of the prescribed time) allow, give to the Controller notice of opposition.

(3) Any such notice of opposition shall contain a statement setting out the grounds on which the application is opposed.

(4) Where any such notice of opposition is duly given, the Controller shall notify the applicant, and shall give to the applicant and the opponent an opportunity to be heard before deciding the case, 

India Patent - SECTION 88

Powers of Controller in granting compulsory licences.—

(1) Where the Controller is satisfied on an application made under section 84 that the manufacture, use or sale of materials not protected by the patent is prejudiced by reason of conditions imposed by the patentee upon the grant of licences under the patent, or upon the purchase, hire or use of the patented article or process, he may, subject to the provisions of that section, order the grant of licences under the patent to such customers of the applicant as he thinks fit as well as to the applicant.

(2) Where an application under section 84 is made by a person being the holder of a licence under the patent, the Controller may, if he makes an order for the grant of a licence to the applicant, order the existing licence to be cancelled, or may, if he thinks fit, instead of making an order for the grant of a licence to the applicant, order the existing licence to be amended.

(3) Where two or more patents are held by the same patentee and an applicant for a compulsory licence establishes that the reasonable requirements of the public have not been satisfied with respect to some only of the said patents, then, if the Controller is satisfied that the applicant cannot efficiently or satisfactorily work the licence granted to him under those patents without infringing the other patents held by the patentee and if those patents involve important technical advancement of considerable economic significance in relation to the other patents, he may, by order, direct the grant of a licence in respect of the other patents also to enable the licensee to work the patent or patents in regard to which a licence is granted under section 84.

(4) Where the terms and conditions of a licence have been settled by the Controller, the licensee may, at any time after he has worked the invention on a commercial scale for a period of not less than twelve months, make an application to the Controller for the revision of the terms and conditions on the ground that the terms and conditions settled have proved to be more onerous than originally expected and that in consequence thereof the licensee is unable to work the invention except at a loss:

Provided that no such application shall be entertained a second time.

India Patent - SECTION 89

General purposes for granting compulsory licences.—

The powers of the Controller upon an application made under section 84 shall be exercised with a view to securing the following general purposes, that is to say,—

(a) that patented inventions are worked on a commercial scale in the territory of India without undue delay and to the fullest extent that is reasonably practicable;

(b) that the interests of any person for the time being working or developing an invention in the territory of India under the protection of a patent are not unfairly prejudiced.

India Patent - SECTION 90

Terms and conditions of compulsory licences.—

(1) In settling the terms and conditions of a licence under section 84, the Controller shall endeavour to secure—

(i) that the royalty and other remuneration, if any, reserved to the patentee or other person beneficially entitled to the patent, is reasonable, having regard to the nature of the invention, the expenditure incurred by the patentee in making the invention or in developing it and obtaining a patent and keeping it in force and other relevant factors;

(ii) that the patented invention is worked to the fullest extent by the person to whom the licence is granted and with reasonable profit to him;

(iii) that the patented articles are made available to the public at reasonably affordable prices;

(iv) that the licence granted is a non-exclusive licence;

(v) that the right of the licensee is non-assignable;

(vi) that the licence is for the balance term of the patent unless a shorter term is consistent with public interest;

[(vii) that the licence is granted with a predominant purpose of supply in the Indian market and that the licensee may also export the patented product if need be in accordance with the provisions of sub-clause (iii) of clause (a) of sub-section (7) of section 84;

(viii) that in the case of semi-conductor technology, the licence granted is to work the invention for public non-commercial use;

(ix) that in case the licence is granted to remedy a practice determined after judicial or administrative process to be anti-competitive, the licensee shall be permitted to export the patented product, if need be] . Subs. by Act 15 of 2005, s. 54, for clause (vii) (w.e.f. 1-1-2005).

(2) No licence granted by the Controller shall authorise the licensee to import the patented article or an article or substance made by a patented process from abroad where such importation would, but for such authorisation, constitute an infringement of the rights of the patentee.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Central Government may, if in its opinion it is necessary so to do, in the public interest,direct the Controller at any time to authorise any licensee in respect of a patent to import the patented article or an article or substance made by a patented process from abroad (subject to such conditions as it considers necessary to impose relating among other matters to the royalty and other remuneration, if any, payable to the patentee, the quantum of import, the sale price of the imported article and the period of importation), and thereupon the Controller shall give effect to the directions.

India Patent - SECTION 83

 General principles applicable to working of patented inventions.—

Without prejudice to the other provisions contained in this Act, in exercising the powers conferred by this Chapter, regard shall be had to the following general considerations, namely;—

(a) that patents are granted to encourage inventions and to secure that the inventions are worked in India on a commercial scale and to the fullest extent that is reasonably practicable without undue delay;

(b) that they are not granted merely to enable patentees to enjoy a monopoly for the importation of the patented article;

(c) that the protection and enforcement of patent rights contribute to the promotion of technological innovation and to the transfer and dissemination of technology, to the mutual advantage of producers and users of technological knowledge and in a manner conducive to social and economic welfare, and to a balance of rights and obligations;

(d) that patents granted do not impede protection of public health and nutrition and should act as instrument to promote public interest specially in sectors of vital importance for socio-economic and technological development of India;

(e) that patents granted do not in any way prohibit Central Government in taking measures to protect public health;

(f) that the patent right is not abused by the patentee or person deriving title or interest on patent from the patentee, and the patentee or a person deriving title or interest on patent from the patentee does not resort to practices which unreasonably restrain trade or adversely affect the international transfer of technology; and

(g) that patents are granted to make the benefit of the patented invention available at reasonably affordable prices to the public.

India Patent - SECTION 102

Acquisition of inventions and patents by the Central Government.—

(1) The Central Government may, if satisfied that it is necessary that an invention which is the subject of an application for a patent or a patent should be acquired from the applicant or the patentee for a public purpose, publish a notification to that effect in the Official Gazette, and thereupon the invention or patent and all rights in respect of the invention or patent shall, by force of this section, stand transferred to and be vested in the Central Government.

(2) Notice of the acquisition shall be given to the applicant, and, where a patent has been granted, to the patentee and other persons, if any, appearing in the register as having an interest in the patent.

(3) The Central Government shall pay to the applicant, or, as the case may be, the patentee and other persons appearing on the register as having an interest in the patent such compensation as may be agreed upon between the Central Government and the applicant, or the patentee and other persons; or, as may, in default of agreement, be determined by the High Court on a reference under section 103 to be just having regard to the expenditure incurred in connection with the invention and, in the case of a patent, the term thereof, the period during which and the manner in which it has already been worked (including the profits made during such period by the patentee or by his licensee whether exclusive or otherwise) and other relevant factors.

India Trademark - SECTION 100

Transfer of pending proceedings to Appellate Board.

Omitted by s. 21, ibid. (w.e.f. 4-4-2021).

India Trademark - SECTION 157

Power to make rules.

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette and subject to the conditions of previous publication, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:

(i) the matters to be included in the Register of Trade Marks under sub-section (1) of section 6, and the safeguards to be observed in the maintenance of records on computer floppies or diskettes or in any other electronic form under sub-section (2) of that section;

(ii) the manner of publication of alphabetical index of classification of goods and services under sub-section (1) of section 8;

(iii) the manner in which the Registrar may notify a word as an international non-proprietary name under section 13;

(iv) the manner of making an application for dissolution of an association under sub-section (5) of section 16;

(v) the manner of making an application for registration of a trade mark under sub-section (1) of section 18;

(vi) the manner of advertising of an application for registration under sub-section (1), and the manner of notifying corrections or amendments under sub-section (2), of section 20;

[(vii) the manner of giving a notice of opposition and the fee payable for such notice under sub-section (1) and sending counter-statement under sub-section (2) and submission of evidence and the time therefor under sub-section (4) of section 21;] Subs. by Act 40 of 2010, s. 9, for clause (vii) (w.e.f. 8-7-2013).

(viii) the form of certificate of registration under sub-section (2), and the manner of giving notice to the applicant under sub-section (3) of section 23;

(ix) the forms of application for renewal and restoration the time within which such application is to be made and fee and surcharge if any payable with each application, under section 25 and the time within which the Registrar shall send a notice and the manner of such notice under sub-section (3) of that section;

[(ixa) the time within which the international application is to be forwarded to the International Bureau and the manner of certifying the particulars by the Registrar under sub-section (4) of section 36D;] Ins. by s. 9, ibid. (w.e.f. 8-7-2013).

(ixb) the manner of keeping a record of particulars of an international registration under sub-section (1) of section 36E;

(ixc) the manner of informing the International Bureau under sub-section (2) of section 36E;

(ixd) the manner of advertising the international registration and the time within which the international registration shall be advertised under sub-section (3) of section 39E;

(x) the manner of submitting statement of cases under sub-section (2) of section 40;

(xi) the manner of making an application by the proprietor of a trade mark under section 41;

(xii) the manner of making an application for assignment or transmission of a certification trade mark under section 43;

(xiii) the manner of making an application to the Registrar to register title under sub-section (1) of section 45;

[(xiiia) the period within which the Registrar shall dispose of an application under sub-section (3) of section 45;]

(xiv) the manner in which and the period within which an application is to be made under sub-section (4) of section 46;

(xv) the manner of making an application under sub-section (2) of section 47;

(xvi) the manner of making an application, documents and other evidence to accompany such application under sub-section (1) and the manner in which notice is to be issued under sub-section (3) of section 49;

(xvii) the manner of making an application under sub-section (1), the manner of issuing a notice under sub-section (2) and the procedure for cancelling a registration under sub-section (3) of section 50;

(xviii) the manner of making applications under sub-sections (1) and (2), the manner of giving notice under sub-section (4) and the manner of service of notice of rectification under sub-section (5) of section 57;

(xix) the manner of making an application under section 58;

(xx) the manner of making an application under sub-section (1), the manner of advertising an application, time and manner of notice by which application may be opposed under sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 59;

(xxi) the manner of advertisement under sub-section (2) of section 60;

(xxii) the other matters to be specified in the regulations under sub-section (2) of section 63;

(xxiii) the manner of making an application under sub-section (1) of section 71;

(xxiv) the manner of advertising an application under section 73; (xxv) the manner of making an application under section 77;                  

*Cls. (xxvi), (xxvii) and (xxviii) omitted by Act 40 of 2010, s. 9 (w.e.f. 8-7-2013)

(xxix) the salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, the [Chairperson] Subs. by Act 7 of 2017, s. 161, for “Chairman” (w.e.f. 26-5-2017)​, [Vice-Chairperson] Subs. by s. 161, ibid., for “Vice-Chairman” (w.e.f. 26-5-2017) and other Members under sub-section (1) of section 88;

(xxx) the procedure for investigation of misbehavior or incapacity of the [Chairperson] Subs. by Act 7 of 2017, s. 161, for “Chairman” (w.e.f. 26-5-2017), [Vice-Chairperson] Subs. by s. 161, ibid., for “Vice-Chairman” (w.e.f. 26-5-2017) and other Members under sub-section (3) of section 89;

*Clauses (xxxi) and (xxxii) omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021).

(xxxiii) the form in which and the particulars to be included in the application to the [High Court] Subs. by s. 21, ibid., for “Appellate Board” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021). under sub-section (1) of section 97;

(xxxiv) the manner of making an application for review under clause (c) of section 127;

(xxxv) the time within which an application is to be made to the Registrar for exercising his discretionary power under section 128;

(xxxvi) the manner of making an application and the fee payable therefor under sub-section (1) of section 131;

(xxxvii) the manner of making an application under sub-section (1) and the period for withdrawal of such application under sub-section (2) of section 133;

(xxxviii) the manner of authorising any person to act and the manner of registration as a trade mark agent under section 145;

(xxxix) the conditions for inspection of documents under sub-section (1) and the fee payable for obtaining a certified copy of any entry in the register under sub-section (2) of section 148;

(xl) the fees and surcharge payable for making applications and registration and other matters under section 150;

(xli) any other matter which is required to be or may be prescribed.

(3) The power to make rules conferred by this section shall include the power to give retrospective effect in respect of the matters referred to in clauses (xxix) and (xxxi) of sub-section (2) from a date not earlier than the date of commencement of this Act, but no retrospective effect shall be given to any such rule so as to prejudicially affect the interests of any person to whom sub-rule may be applicable.

(4) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

India Trademark - SECTION 131

Extension of time.

(1) If the Registrar is satisfied, on application made to him in the prescribed manner and accompanied by the prescribed fee, that there is sufficient cause for extending the time for doing any act (not being a time expressly provided in this Act), whether the time so specified has expired or not, he may, subject to such conditions as he may think fit to impose, extend the time and inform the parties accordingly.

(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall be deemed to require the Registrar to hear the parties before disposing of an application for extension of time, and no appeal shall lie from any order of the Registrar under this section.

India Trademark - SECTION 12

Registration in the case of honest concurrent use, etc.

In the case of honest concurrent use or of other special circumstances which in the opinion of the Registrar, make it proper so to do, he may permit the registration by more than one proprietor of the trade marks which are identical or similar (whether any such trade mark is already registered or not) in respect of the same or similar goods or services, subject to such conditions and limitations, if any, as the Registrar may think fit to impose.

India Trademark - SECTION 3

Appointment of Registrar and other officers.—

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint a person to be known as the Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who shall be the Registrar of Trade Marks for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The Central Government may appoint such other officers with such designations as it thinks fit for the purpose of discharging, under the superintendence and direction of the Registrar, such functions of the Registrar under this Act as he may from time to time authorize them to discharge.

India Trademark - SECTION 148

Documents open to public inspection.

(1) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (4) of section 49,

(a) the register and any document upon which any entry in the register is based;

(b) every notice of opposition to the registration of a trade mark application for rectification before the Registrar, counter-statement thereto, and any affidavit or document filed by the parties in any proceedings before the Registrar;

(c) all regulations deposited under section 63 or section 74, and all applications under section 66 or section 77 for varying such regulations;

(d) the indexes mentioned in section 147; and

(e) such other documents as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify,

shall, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, be open to public inspection at the Trade Marks Registry:

Provided that when such register is maintained wholly or partly on computer, the inspection of such register under this section shall be made by inspecting the computer printout of the relevant entry in the register so maintained on computer.

(2) Any person may, on an application to the Registrar and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed, obtain a certified copy of any entry in the register or any document referred to in sub-section (1).

India Trademark - SECTION 6

The Register of Trade Marks.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a record called the Register of Trade Marks shall be kept at the head office of the Trade Marks Registry, wherein shall be entered all registered trade marks with the names, addresses and description of the proprietors, notifications of assignment and transmissions, the names, addresses and descriptions of registered users, conditions, limitations and such other matter relating to registered trade marks as may be prescribed.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), it shall be lawful for the Registrar to keep the records wholly or partly in computer floppies diskettes or in any other electronic form subject to such safeguards as may be prescribed.

(3) Where such register is maintained wholly or partly on computer under sub-section (2) any reference in this Act to entry in the Register shall be construed as the reference to any entry as maintained on computer or in any other electronic form.

(4) No notice of any trust, express or implied or constructive, shall be entered in the register and no such notice shall be receivable by the Registrar.

(5) The register shall be kept under the control and management of the Registrar.

(6) There shall be kept at each branch office of the Trade Marks Registry a copy of the register and such of the other documents mentioned in section 148 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct.

(7) The Register of Trade Marks, both Part A and Part B, existing at the commencement of this Act, shall be incorporated in and form part of the register under this Act.

India Trademark - SECTION 83

Establishment of Appellate Board.

Omitted by The Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021 (33 of 2021), s. 21 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021).

India Trademark - SECTION 49

Registration as registered user.

(1) Where it is proposed that a person should be registered as a registered user of a trade mark, the registered proprietor and the proposed registered user shall jointly apply in writing to the Registrar in the prescribed manner, and every such application shall be accompanied by—

(a) the agreement in writing or a duly authenticated copy thereof, entered into between the registered proprietor and the proposed registered user with respect to the permitted use of the trade mark; and

(b) an affidavit made by the registered proprietor or by some person authorized to the satisfaction of the Registrar to act on his behalf,—

(i) giving particulars of the relationship, existing or proposed, between the registered proprietor and the proposed registered user, including particulars showing the degree of control by the proprietor over the permitted use which their relationship will confer and whether it is a term of their relationship that the proposed registered user shall be the sole registered user or that there shall be any other restriction as to persons for whose registration as registered users application may be made;

(ii) stating the goods or services in respect of which registration is proposed;

(iii) stating the conditions or restrictions, if any, proposed with respect to the characteristics of the goods or services, to the mode or place of permitted use, or to any other matter;

(iv) stating whether the permitted use is to be for a period or without limit of period, and, if for a period, the duration thereof; and

(c) such further documents or other evidence as may be required by the Registrar or as may be prescribed.

(2) When the requirements of sub-section (1) have been complied with, the Registrar shall register the proposed registered user in respect of the goods or services as to which he is so satisfied.

(3) The Registrar shall issue notice in the prescribed manner of the registration of a person as a registered user, to other registered users of the trade mark, if any.

(4) The Registrar shall, if so requested by the applicant, take steps for securing that information given for the purposes of an application under this section (other than matters entered in the register) is not disclosed to rivals in trade.

India Trademark - SECTION 7

Classification of goods and services.

(1) The Registrar shall classify goods and services, as far as may be, in accordance with the International classification of goods and services for the purposes of registration of trade marks.

(2) Any question arising as to the class within which any goods or services falls shall be determined by the Registrar whose decision shall be final.

India Trademark - SECTION 18

Application for registration.

(1) Any person claiming to be the proprietor of a trade mark used or proposed to be used by him, who is desirous of registering it, shall apply in writing to the Registrar in the prescribed manner for the registration of his trade mark.

(2) A single application may be made for registration of a trade mark for different classes of goods and services and fee payable therefor shall be in respect of each such class of goods or services.

(3) Every application under sub-section (1) shall be filed in the office of the Trade Marks Registry within whose territorial limits the principal place of business in India of the applicant or in the case of joint applicants the principal place of business in India of the applicant whose name is first mentioned in the application as having a place of business in India, is situate:

Provided that where the applicant or any of the joint applicants does not carry on business in India, the application shall be filed in the office of the Trade Marks Registry within whose territorial limits the place mentioned in the address for service in India as disclosed in the application, is situate.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Registrar may refuse the application or may accept it absolutely or subject to such amendments, modifications, conditions or limitations, if any, as he may think fit.

(5) In the case of a refusal or conditional acceptance of an application, the Registrar shall record in writing the grounds for such refusal or conditional acceptance and the materials used by him in arriving at his decision.

SUBHASMITA

Subha effectively manages patent consulting projects from diverse medium and large companies. Her consulting practice is mainly focused on technologies related to electrical, electronics, semiconductor, software and telecommunication engineering. She has worked in the field of VLSI front-end design and verification prior to starting her IP career.

She specialises in patent drafting, prosecution and patentability studies. Her experience and expertise in patent prosecution has helped many of our largest clients to secure patents in contentious situations.  

Subha is an author or co-author in more than fifteen (15) publications on topics ranging from patent drafting strategy to patent portfolio management. She also has various technology related publications to her credit, which include, “Simulation of buffer trapping effects in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs”, ICNANO, Delhi, India, “Simulation of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs epitaxial layers for bio-sensing applications”, WOCSDICE, Porquerolles, France, and “Investigation on doping configurations in Gallium Nitride HEMTs epitaxial design for bio-sensing”, EXMATEC, Porquerolles, France.  

In her spare time, Subha likes to explore new destinations. She has an interest in writing, and has had several of her short stories and articles published in various magazines.

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India Trademark - SECTION 36E

International registrations where India has been designated.—

(1) The Registrar shall, after receipt of an advice from the International Bureau about any international registration where India has been designated, keep a record of the particulars of that international registration in the prescribed manner.

(2) Where, after recording the particulars of any international registration referred to in
sub-section (1), the Registrar is satisfied that in the circumstances of the case the protection of trade mark
in India should not be granted or such protection should be granted subject to conditions or limitations or
to conditions additional to or different from the conditions or limitations subject to which the international
registration has been accepted, he may, after hearing the applicant if he so desires, refuse grant of
protection and inform the International Bureau in the prescribed manner within eighteen months from the
date on which the advice referred to in sub-section (1) was received.

(3) Where the Registrar finds nothing in the particulars of an international registration to refuse grant
of protection under sub-section (2), he shall within the prescribed period cause such international
registration to be advertised in the prescribed manner.

(4) The provisions of sections 9 to 21 (both inclusive), 63 and 74 shall apply mutatis mutandis in
relation to an international registration as if such international registration was an application for
registration of a trade mark under section 18.

(5) When the protection of an international registration has not been opposed and the time for notice
of opposition has expired, the Registrar shall within a period of eighteen months of the receipt of advice
under sub-section (1) notify the International Bureau its acceptance of extension of protection of the trade
mark under such international registration and, in case the Registrar fails to notify the International
Bureau, it shall be deemed that the protection has been extended to the trade mark.

(6) Where a registered proprietor of a trade mark makes an international registration of that trade
mark and designates India, the international registration from the date of the registration shall be deemed
to replace the registration held in India without prejudice to any right acquired under such previously held
registration and the Registrar shall, upon request by the applicant, make necessary entry in the register
referred to in sub-section (1) of section 6.

(7) A holder of international registration of a trade mark who designates India and who has not been
extended protection in India shall have the same remedy which is available to any person making an
application for the registration of a trade mark under section 18 and which has not resulted in registration
under section 23.

(8) Where at any time before the expiry of a period of five years of an international registration,
whether such registration has been transferred to another person or not, the related basic application or, as
the case may be, the basic registration in a Contracting Party other than India has been withdrawn or
cancelled or has expired or has been finally refused in respect of all or some of the goods or services
listed in the international registration, the protection resulting from such international registration in India
shall cease to have effect

India Trademark - SECTION 154

Special provisions relating to applications for registration from citizens of convention countries.

(1) With a view to the fulfilment of a treaty, convention or arrangement with any country or country which is a member of a group of countries or union of countries or Inter-Governmental Organisation outside India which affords to citizens of India similar privileges as granted to its own citizens, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare such country or group of countries or union of countries or Inter-Governmental Organisation to be a convention country or group of countries or union of countries or Inter-Governmental Organisation, as the case may be, for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Where a person has made an application for the registration of a trade mark in a convention country or country which is a member of a group of countries or union of countries or Inter-Governmental Organisation and that person, or his legal representative or assignee, makes an application for the registration of the trade mark in India within six months after the date on which the application was made in the convention country or country which is a member of a group of countries or union of countries or Inter-Governmental Organisations, the trade mark shall, if registered under this Act, be registered as of the date on which the application was made in the convention country or country which is a member of a group of countries or union of countries or Inter-Governmental Organisation and that date shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to be the date of registration.

(3) Where applications have been made for the registration of a trade mark in two or more convention countries or country which are members of group of countries or union of countries or Inter-Governmental Organisation, the period of six months referred to in the last preceding sub-section shall be reckoned from the date on which the earlier or earliest of those applications was made.

(4) Nothing in this Act shall entitle the proprietor of a trade mark to recover damages for infringement which took place prior to the date of application for registration under this Act.

India Trademark - SECTION 15

 Registration of parts of trade marks and of trade marks as a series.

(1) Where the proprietor of a trade mark claims to be entitled to the exclusive use of any part thereof separately, he may apply to register the whole and the part as separate trade marks.

(2) Each such separate trade mark shall satisfy all the conditions applying to and have all the incidents of, an independent trade mark.

(3) Where a person claiming to be the proprietor of several trade marks in respect of the same or similar goods or services or description of goods or description of services, which, while resembling each other in the material particulars thereof, yet differ in respect of—

(a) statement of the goods or services in relation to which they are respectively used or proposed to be used; or

(b) statement of number, price, quality or names of places; or

(c) other matter of a non-distinctive character which does not substantially affect the identity of the trade mark; or

(d) color,

seeks to register those trade marks, they may be registered as a series in one registration.

India Trademark - SECTION 9

Absolute grounds for refusal of registration.

(1) The trade marks—

(a) which are devoid of any distinctive character, that is to say, not capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one person from those of another person;

(b) which consist exclusively of marks or indications which may serve in trade to designate the kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, values, geographical origin or the time of production of the goods or rendering of the service or other characteristics of the goods or service;

(c) which consist exclusively of marks or indications which have become customary in the current language or in the bona fide and established practices of the trade, shall not be registered:

Provided that a trade mark shall not be refused registration if before the date of application for registration it has acquired a distinctive character as a result of the use made of it or is a well-known trade mark.

(2) A mark shall not be registered as a trade mark if—

(a) it is of such nature as to deceive the public or cause confusion;

 (b) it contains or comprises of any matter likely to hurt the religious susceptibilities of any class or section of the citizens of India;

(c) it comprises or contains scandalous or obscene matter;

(d) its use is prohibited under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 (12 of 1950).

(3) A mark shall not be registered as a trade mark if it consists exclusively of—

(a) the shape of goods which results from the nature of the goods themselves; or

(b) the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result; or

(c) the shape which gives substantial value to the goods.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, the nature of goods or services in relation to which the trade mark is used or proposed to be used shall not be a ground for refusal of registration.

India Trademark - SECTION 11

Relative grounds for refusal of registration.

(1) Save as provided in section 12, a trade mark shall not be registered if, because of—

(a) its identity with an earlier trade mark and similarity of goods or services covered by the trade mark; or

(b) its similarity to an earlier trade mark and the identity or similarity of the goods or services covered by the trade mark, there exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public, which includes the likelihood of association with the earlier trade mark.

(2) A trade mark which—

(a) is identical with or similar to an earlier trade mark; and

(b) is to be registered for goods or services which are not similar to those for which the earlier trade mark is registered in the name of a different proprietor,shall not be registered if or to the extent the earlier trade mark is a well-known trade mark in India and the use of the later mark without due cause would take unfair advantage of or be detrimental to the distinctive character or repute of the earlier trade mark.

(3) A trade mark shall not be registered if, or to the extent that, its use in India is liable to be prevented—

(a) by virtue of any law in particular the law of passing off protecting an unregistered trade mark used in the course of trade; or

(b) by virtue of law of copyright.

(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the registration of a trade mark where the proprietor of the earlier trade mark or other earlier right consents to the registration, and in such case the Registrar may register the mark under special circumstances under section 12.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, earlier trade mark means—

[(a) a registered trade mark or an application under section 18 bearing an earlier date of filing or an international registration referred to in section 36E or convention application referred to in section 154 which has a date of application earlier than that of the trade mark in question, taking account, where appropriate, of the priorities claimed in respect of the trade marks;] Subs. by Act 40 of 2010, s. 2, for clause (a) (w.e.f. 8-7-2013).

(b) a trade mark which, on the date of the application for registration of the trade mark in question, or where appropriate, of the priority claimed in respect of the application, was entitled to protection as a well-known trade mark.

(5) A trade mark shall not be refused registration on the grounds specified in sub-sections (2) and (3), unless objection on any one or more of those grounds is raised in opposition proceedings by the proprietor of the earlier trade mark.

(6) The Registrar shall, while determining whether a trade mark is a well-known trade mark, take into account any fact which he considers relevant for determining a trade mark as a well-known trade mark including—

(i) the knowledge or recognition of that trade mark in the relevant section of the public including knowledge in India obtained as a result of promotion of the trade mark;

(ii) the duration, extent and geographical area of any use of that trade mark;

(iii) the duration, extent and geographical area of any promotion of the trade mark, including advertising or publicity and presentation, at fairs or exhibition of the goods or services to which the trade mark applies;

(iv) the duration and geographical area of any registration of or any application for registration of that trade mark under this Act to the extent that they reflect the use or recognition of the trade mark;

(v) the record of successful enforcement of the rights in that trade mark, in particular the extent to which the trade mark has been recognised as a well-known trade mark by any court or Registrar under that record.

(7) The Registrar shall, while determining as to whether a trade mark is known or recognised in a relevant section of the public for the purposes of sub-section (6), take into account—

(i) the number of actual or potential consumers of the goods or services;

(ii) the number of persons involved in the channels of distribution of the goods or services; (iii) the business circles dealing with the goods or services,to which that trade mark applies.

(8) Where a trade mark has been determined to be well known in at least one relevant section of the public in India by any court or Registrar, the Registrar shall consider that trade mark as a well-known trade mark for registration under this Act.

(9) The Registrar shall not require as a condition, for determining whether a trade mark is a well-known trade mark, any of the following, namely:—

(i) that the trade mark has been used in India;

(ii) that the trade mark has been registered;

(iii) that the application for registration of the trade mark has been filed in India;

(iv) that the trade mark—

(a) is well-known in; or

(b) has been registered in; or

(c) in respect of which an application for registration has been filed in, any jurisdiction other than India, or

(v) that the trade mark is well-known to the public at large in India.

(10) While considering an application for registration of a trade mark and opposition filed in respect thereof, the Registrar shall—

(i) protect a well-known trade mark against the identical or similar trade marks;

(ii) take into consideration the bad faith involved either of the applicant or the opponent affecting the right relating to the trade mark.

(11) Where a trade mark has been registered in good faith disclosing the material informations to the Registrar or where right to a trade mark has been acquired through use in good faith before the commencement of this Act, then, nothing in this Act shall prejudice the validity of the registration of that trade mark or right to use that trade mark on the ground that such trade mark is identical with or similar to a  well-known trade mark.

India Trademark - SECTION 22

Correction and amendment.

The Registrar may, on such terms as he thinks just, at any time, whether before or after acceptance of an application for registration under section 18, permit the correction of any error in or in connection with the application or permit an amendment of the application:

Provided that if an amendment is made to a single application referred to in sub-section (2) of section 18 involving division of such application into two or more applications, the date of making of the initial application shall be deemed to be the date of making of the divided applications so divided.

India Trademark - SECTION 19

Withdrawal of acceptance.

Where, after the acceptance of an application for registration of a trade mark but before its registration, the Registrar is satisfied—

(a) that the application has been accepted in error; or

(b) that in the circumstances of the case the trade mark should not be registered or should be registered subject to conditions or limitations or to conditions additional to or different from the conditions or limitations subject to which the application has been accepted,

the Registrar may, after hearing the applicant if he so desires, withdraw the acceptance and proceed as if the application had not been accepted.

KARTIK PUTTAIAH

Co-Founder & CEO

Kartik is the co-founder of InvnTree. He has over eleven years of experience in patent consulting and is proficient at providing patent services in technologies related to manufacturing, automation engineering, medical devices, software engineering, and telecommunication engineering.

His decade-long patent practice has made him an expert in securing patents, advising on patent portfolio development and mitigating IPR related risks. His counsel is especially sought after in hearings before the Indian Patent Office due to his impressive track record of successes there.

Kartik is a popular speaker at IP conferences and often delivers instructive talks on topics ranging from IP policies to the practical aspects of patent practice in India. Apart from delivering talks at conferences and seminars in India, he has enjoyed delivering speeches at conferences in the USA, Japan and South Korea.

Kartik is also a qualified Indian Patent and Trademark agent.

In his personal time, you will often find him playing with his pet beagle, Chintu. He is also fond of high altitude treks, and manages to pull off a trek in the Himalayas every year.

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DARSHAN

Darshan manages projects related to mechanical engineering, automation engineering and medical devices. A significant portion of his practice specializes in patent drafting, patent prosecution and patent opposition. In addition to that, he and his team handle large patent due-diligence assignments.

He works closely with numerous in-house IP teams of our clients, and is instrumental in customizing broad patent prosecution strategy for his clients based on their specific business objectives and go-to-market strategies.

Apart from client engagement, Darshan manages the publication and content creation initiatives of the Company. InvnTree’s widely-appreciated monthly newsletter, EmbraceIP, which reaches over 30,000 readers worldwide, is composed under his leadership.

When he is not working, Darshan follows football and is an avid Arsenal fan.

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India Trademark - SECTION 57

Power to cancel or vary registration and to rectify the register.

(1) On application made in the prescribed manner to the [High Court] Subs. by s. 21, ibid., for “Appellate Board” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021). or to the Registrar by any person aggrieved, the [Register or the High Court as the case may be] Subs. by s. 21, ibid., for “tribunal” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) may make such order as it may think fit for canceling or varying the registration of a trade mark on the ground of any contravention, or failure to observe a condition entered on the register in relation thereto.

(2) Any person aggrieved by the absence or omission from the register of any entry, or by any entry made in the register without sufficient cause, or by any entry wrongly remaining on the register, or by any error or defect in any entry in the register, may apply in the prescribed manner to the [High Court] Subs. by s. 21, ibid., for “Appellate Board” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) or to the Registrar, and the [Register or the High Court as the case may be] Subs. by s. 21, ibid., for “tribunal” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) may make such order for making, expunging or varying the entry as it may think fit.

(3) The [Register or the High Court as the case may be] Subs. by s. 21, ibid., for “tribunal” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) may in any proceeding under this section decide any question that may be necessary or expedient to decide in connection with the rectification of the register.

(4) The [Register or the High Court as the case may be] Subs. by s. 21, ibid., for “tribunal” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021), of its own motion, may, after giving notice in the prescribed manner to the parties concerned and after giving them an opportunity of being heard, make any order referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2).

(5) Any order of the [High Court] Subs. by s. 21, ibid., for “Appellate Board” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) rectifying the register shall direct that notice of the rectification shall be served upon the Registrar in the prescribed manner who shall upon receipt of such notice rectify the register accordingly.

SAMUEL

Samuel has experience in patent consulting and is proficient at providing patent services in technologies related to manufacturing, automation engineering, medical devices, software engineering, and telecommunication engineering.

He also leads a team that works on patent invalidation, Freedom to Operate (FTO) searches and patent opposition matters.

He has presented a research article in a peer reviewed international journal  “Applied solar energy” and has also presented a research paper at an international conference held at VIT University. 

Prior to starting his career in patent consulting Samuel worked as a software engineer at Cognizant.

Samuel likes to watch and play football and follows the team arsenal.

Education
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Kartik Puttaiah

Co-Founder & CEO

Kartik is the co-founder of InvnTree. He has over eleven years of experience in patent consulting and is proficient at providing patent services in technologies related to manufacturing, automation engineering, medical devices, software engineering, and telecommunication engineering.

His decade-long patent practice has made him an expert in securing patents, advising on patent portfolio development and mitigating IPR related risks. His counsel is especially sought after in hearings before the Indian Patent Office due to his impressive track record of successes there.

Kartik is a popular speaker at IP conferences and often delivers instructive talks on topics ranging from IP policies to the practical aspects of patent practice in India. Apart from delivering talks at conferences and seminars in India, he has enjoyed delivering speeches at conferences in the USA, Japan and South Korea.

In his personal time, you will often find him playing with his pet beagle, Chintu. He is also fond of high altitude treks, and manages to pull off a trek in the Himalayas every year.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

Kartik Puttaiah

Co-Founder & CEO

Kartik is the co-founder of InvnTree. He has over eleven years of experience in patent consulting and is proficient at providing patent services in technologies related to manufacturing, automation engineering, medical devices, software engineering, and telecommunication engineering.

His decade-long patent practice has made him an expert in securing patents, advising on patent portfolio development and mitigating IPR related risks. His counsel is especially sought after in hearings before the Indian Patent Office due to his impressive track record of successes there.

Kartik is a popular speaker at IP conferences and often delivers instructive talks on topics ranging from IP policies to the practical aspects of patent practice in India. Apart from delivering talks at conferences and seminars in India, he has enjoyed delivering speeches at conferences in the USA, Japan and South Korea.

In his personal time, you will often find him playing with his pet beagle, Chintu. He is also fond of high altitude treks, and manages to pull off a trek in the Himalayas every year.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

HEMANTH Puttaiah

Co-Founder & CMO

Hemanth is the other co-founder of InvnTree. He is known for his expertise in developing patent portfolio strategies, patent drafting and prosecution. Given his experience in the software development field prior to his career in IP, he specializes in projects related to software technologies.

He is also actively involved in IP audits, and has developed customized IP policies and frameworks for emerging companies as well as established ones. Hemanth has also gained extensive experience in managing large patent projects involving the restructuring of the overall prosecution strategy and patent portfolio pruning.

His role within InvnTree also involves scaling our operations and consulting expertise as our practice grows.

Hemanth is also a qualified Indian Patent and Trademark Agent.

Hemanth is fond of good books and food. He likes to spend his vacations enjoying the beauty of the Himalayas.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

POONAM

Poonam has worked in Pharmaceutical R&D prior to her career in Patent consulting. Her areas of practice cover projects from multiple domains such as Industrial Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology, Chemistry and other Life Sciences.

She manages various activities such as Prior-art Searching, Patent Specification Drafting, Patent Prosecution, Opposition proceedings and Competitor Intelligence.

Poonam is a qualified Indian Patent agent.

In her free time, Poonam keeps herself busy by reading books and traveling.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

ARCHANA

Archana has experience in providing patent consulting services in technologies related to manufacturing, automation engineering, medical devices, software engineering and telecommunication engineering. 

Her practice is mainly focused on Patent Drafting, Patent Prosecution and Patentability Searches. 

She has been trained in IP related Patent Law as a woman scientist-C(WOS-C) under the KIRAN-IPR scheme conducted by the Government of India.

Prior to starting her career in patent consulting, Archana has worked as an associate professor in engineering for 10+ years.

Archana is a qualified Patent Agent

In her free time, Archana likes to sing, watch movies, cook exotic recipes and explore lesser known destinations.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

ROHAN

Rohan has cultivated a fanaticism for Intellectual Property from his early college days, and as a result of that, has developed a thorough understanding of concepts ranging from copyrights, trademarks and patents to intermediary liability for IP infringement, trade secrets and digital IP rights.

Rohan works closely with the patent and trademark filing team, and applies his garnered expertise in trademark prosecution issues. He also assists with strategy postulation, policy formulation, and is actively engaged in portfolio commercialisation.

Rohan is also an ardent follower of football and squash, and would preferably be found on the field or in the court. He is also a purveyor of sci-fi, and takes up reading when time permits.

Education
Consulting Areas

UTKARSH

Utkarsh’s practice primarily involves drafting and prosecution of patent applications in the fields of aerospace, automation, automobile, material science and medical devices. He also leads a team that works on patent invalidation, Freedom to Operate (FTO) searches and patent opposition matters.  

Prior to making his career change to patent consulting, he was involved in the design and development of mechanical components.

Utkarsh is also a qualified Indian Patent Agent.

Utkarsh likes to engage in sports such as cricket and football. In his spare time he likes to indulge in amateur photography.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

NEHA

Neha’s practice primarily involves drafting and prosecution of patent applications in technologies related to software engineering, telecommunication engineering, electrical engineering and electronics engineering domains. She is also actively involved in closely monitoring the newest changes that affect the patenting of software inventions in India and other major jurisdictions, and aligns InvnTree’s drafting and prosecution practice accordingly.

She is known for her capability to guide her team in articulating and building compelling arguments during patent prosecution. Her expertise and experience in patent prosecution is commonly sought after by our clients, especially in cases involving the prosecution of complex software patent applications.

Within the Company, she is actively involved in grooming new recruits to build their capabilities to comply with InvnTree’s standards. She is also frequently invited by our clients to deliver talks on various topics related to patents.

Neha is an avid bookworm, and can be found creating new recipes in her kitchen.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

ELIZABETH

Elizabeth’s practice primarily involves drafting and prosecution of patent applications in technologies related to software engineering, telecommunication engineering, electrical engineering and electronics engineering domains. She is also actively involved in closely monitoring the newest changes that affect the patenting of software inventions in India and other major jurisdictions, and aligns InvnTree’s drafting and prosecution practice accordingly.

She is known for her capability to guide her team in articulating and building compelling arguments during patent prosecution. Her expertise and experience in patent prosecution is commonly sought after by our clients, especially in cases involving the prosecution of complex software and electronics patent applications.

Elizabeth is fond of reading science fiction and likes to explore new places.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

ABHISHEK

Abhishek’s areas of practice cover projects from multiple domains such as electronics, semiconductor, electrical, software, telecommunication, and computer hardware domains. He manages projects relating to Prior Art Searching, Infringement Searches, Freedom to Operate searches, Competitor Intelligence, Patent Drafting, and Patent Prosecution. 

He is known for his capability to guide his team in articulating and building compelling arguments during patent prosecution. His expertise and experience in patent prosecution is commonly sought after by our clients, especially in cases involving the prosecution of complex software patent applications.

Abhishek is fond of reading books, swimming, and traveling.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

RANJITH

Ranjith has worked in Pharmaceutical R&D prior to his career in Patent consulting. His areas of practice cover projects from multiple domains such as Industrial Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology, Chemistry and other Life Sciences.

He manages various activities such as Prior-art Searching, Patent Specification Drafting, Patent Prosecution, Opposition proceedings and Competitor Intelligence.

In his free time, Ranjith keeps himself updating with the current affairs and latest happenings across the world. He enjoys travelling and reading.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

CHARAN

Charan’s practice primarily involves drafting and prosecution of patent applications in the fields of aerospace, automation, automobile, material science and medical devices. He also leads a team that works on patent invalidation, Freedom to Operate (FTO) searches and patent opposition matters.  

He is an author or co-author in more than ten publications on a variety of topics related to patent practice. In addition to that, he is a co-author in several technology related publications which include “Synthesis and Characterization of Dual Particle (MWCT+B4C) Reinforced Sintered Hybrid Aluminium Matrix Composites”, Particulate Science and Technology, and “Trends and challenges in lower limb prostheses” IEEE Potentials.

Charan started his professional career as a Junior Research Fellow at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. Prior to making his career change to patent consulting, he was involved in the development of light-weight polymer and ceramic materials for thermal insulation applications, and the development of nanocomposites for heat exchange applications.

Charan likes to read and write non-fiction. He also engages in sports such as cricket and badminton.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

SHAJI

Shaji leads a team that focuses on prosecution of industrial design applications. He has extensive knowledge of various compliance requirements corresponding to patent and design illustrations of several jurisdictions including India, USA and Europe. His team also works with our patent consultants across InvnTree.

Prior to his career in IP, he worked as a design engineer. He applies his expertise in product design to work with early stage start-ups engaged in the development of mechanical products.

Shaji likes to keep himself updated on the latest happenings in various sports. He also enjoys listening to music in his spare time.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

MEGHANA

Meghana was a software developer prior to her career in patent consulting. She currently works with our clients in technologies related to electrical engineering, electronics engineering, software engineering and telecommunication engineering domains. Her practice is mainly focused on patent drafting, patent prosecution and patentability searches. Additionally, she, with her team, has conducted IP audits of many small and medium sized companies, and has set up strong IP frameworks within such companies.

Her expertise and experience in patent prosecution has played a vital role in the development and fine tuning of OptiResponse, our widely-acclaimed intelligent patent prosecution assistance tool. Additionally, under her leadership, our Company undertook the massive exercise of putting together a navigable digital Indian patent law for internal use, which was later made open to the public and is currently being used by patent practitioners worldwide.

Meghana is also a qualified Indian Patent Agent.    

Meghana enjoys reading and travelling. She is also a practised singer and has won several singing competitions.

Education
Technical Domains
Consulting Areas

NUPUR

Nupur works with clients across different domains, helping them with all types of patent filing matters, from the simple ones to the complex ones. She uses her extensive knowledge of various international treaties and national laws governing patent filing and prosecution across major jurisdictions to advise clients on the best available patent filing strategies.

She is also actively involved in patent portfolio management for our clients. She, along with her team, helps to manage our clients’ large patent portfolios which are often spread across multiple jurisdictions. Given her expertise in procedural matters specifically relating to Indian patent law, she provides advice on file wrapper scrutiny to teams working on patent invalidation and opposition matters.

Apart from directly working with our clients, Nupur is responsible for the partner development and engagement initiative of the Company. Under her leadership, InvnTree has established a strong network of capable IP partners in multiple countries across the world.

Nupur is an accomplished dancer with many performances under her belt. She enjoys baking yummy treats and exploring new cuisines while traveling. Nupur understands and speaks basic Japanese.

Education
Consulting Areas

India Trademark - SECTION 29

Infringement of registered trade marks.

(1) A registered trade mark is infringed by a person who, not being a registered proprietor or a person using by way of permitted use, uses in the course of trade, a mark which is identical with, or deceptively similar to, the trade mark in relation to goods or services in respect of which the trade mark is registered and in such manner as to render the use of the mark likely to be taken as being used as a trade mark.

(2) A registered trade mark is infringed by a person who, not being a registered proprietor or a person using by way of permitted use, uses in the course of trade, a mark which because of—

(a) its identity with the registered trade mark and the similarity of the goods or services covered by such registered trade mark; or

(b) its similarity to the registered trade mark and the identity or similarity of the goods or services covered by such registered trade mark; or

(c) its identity with the registered trade mark and the identity of the goods or services covered by such registered trade mark, is likely to cause confusion on the part of the public, or which is likely to have an association with the registered trade mark.

(3) In any case falling under clause (c) of sub-section (2), the court shall presume that it is likely to cause confusion on the part of the public.

(4) A registered trade mark is infringed by a person who, not being a registered proprietor or a person using by way of permitted use, uses in the course of trade, a mark which—

(a) is identical with or similar to the registered trade mark; and

(b) is used in relation to goods or services which are not similar to those for which the trade mark is registered; and

(c) the registered trade mark has a reputation in India and the use of the mark without due cause takes unfair advantage of or is detrimental to, the distinctive character or repute of the registered trade mark.

(5) A registered trade mark is infringed by a person if he uses such registered trade mark, as his trade name or part of his trade name, or name of his business concern or part of the name, of his business concern dealing in goods or services in respect of which the trade mark is registered.

(6) For the purposes of this section, a person uses a registered mark, if, in particular, he—

(a) affixes it to goods or the packaging thereof;

(b) offers or exposes goods for sale, puts them on the market, or stocks them for those purposes under the registered trade mark, or offers or supplies services under the registered trade mark;

(c) imports or exports goods under the mark; or

(d) uses the registered trade mark on business papers or in advertising.

(7) A registered trade mark is infringed by a person who applies such registered trade mark to a material intended to be used for labeling or packaging goods, as a business paper, or for advertising goods or services, provided such person, when he applied the mark, knew or had reason to believe that the application of the mark was not duly authorised by the proprietor or a licensee.

(8) A registered trade mark is infringed by any advertising of that trade mark if such advertising—

(a) takes unfair advantage of and is contrary to honest practices in industrial or commercial matters; or

(b) is detrimental to its distinctive character; or

(c) is against the reputation of the trade mark.

(9) Where the distinctive elements of a registered trade mark consist of or include words, the trade mark may be infringed by the spoken use of those words as well as by their visual representation and reference in this section to the use of a mark shall be construed accordingly.

India Trademark - SECTION 38

Assignability and transmissibility of registered trade marks.

Notwithstanding anything in any other law to the contrary, a registered trade mark shall, subject to the provisions of this Chapter, be assignable and transmissible, whether with or without the goodwill of the business concerned and in respect either of all the goods or services in respect of which the trade mark is registered or of some only of those goods or services.

India Patent - SECTION 146

 Power of Controller to call for information from patentees.—

(1) The Controller may, at any time during the continuance of the patent, by notice in writing, require a patentee or a licensee, exclusive or otherwise, to furnish to him within two months from the date of such notice or within such further time as the Controller may allow, such information or such periodical statements as to the extent to which the patented invention has been commercially worked in India as may be specified in the notice.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), every patentee and every licensee (whether exclusive or otherwise) shall furnish in such manner and form and at such intervals (not being less than six months) as may be prescribed statements as to the extent to which the patented invention has been worked on a commercial scale in India.

(3) The Controller may publish the information received by him under subsection (1) or sub-section (2) in such manner as may be prescribed.

India Trademark - SECTION 91

 Appeals to [High Court] Subs. by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21, for “Appellate Board” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021)...

(1) Any person aggrieved by an order or decision of the Registrar under this Act, or the rules made thereunder may prefer an appeal to the [High Court] Subs. by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21, for “Appellate Board” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) within three months from the date on which the order or decision sought to be appealed against is communicated to such person preferring the appeal.

(2) No appeal shall be admitted if it is preferred after the expiry of the period specified under sub-section (1):

Provided that an appeal may be admitted after the expiry of the period specified therefor, if the appellant satisfies the [High Court] Subs. by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21, for “Appellate Board” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within the specified period.

(3) An appeal to the [High Court] Subs. by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21, for “Appellate Board” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) shall be in the prescribed form and shall be verified in the prescribed manner and shall be accompanied by a copy of the order or decision appealed against and by such fees as may be prescribed.

India Trademark - SECTION 74

Filing of regulations governing use of a certification trade mark.—

(1) There shall be filed at the Trade Marks Registry in respect of every mark registered as a certification trade mark regulations for governing the use thereof, which shall include provisions as to the cases in which the proprietor is to certify goods or services and to authorise the use of the certification trade mark, and may contain any other provisions which the Registrar may by general or special order, require or permit to be inserted therein (including provisions conferring a right of appeal to the Registrar against any refusal of the proprietor to certify goods or to authorise the use of the certification trade mark in accordance with the regulations); and regulations so filed shall be open to inspection in like manner as the register as provided in section 148.

2) The regulations so filed may, on the application of the registered proprietor, be altered by the Registrar.

(3) The Registrar may cause such application to be advertised in any case where it appears to him expedient so to do, and where he does so, if within the time specified in the advertisement any person gives notice of opposition to the application, the Registrar shall not decide the matter without giving the parties an opportunity of being heard.

India Trademark - SECTION 70

Registration of certification trade marks.

A mark shall not be registrable as a certification trade mark in the name of a person who carries on a trade in goods of the kind certified or a trade of the provision of services of the kind certified.

India Trademark - SECTION 78

Rights conferred by registration of certification trade marks.

(1) Subject to the provisions of sections 34, 35 and 76, the registration of a person as a proprietor of certification trade mark in respect of any goods or services shall, if valid, give to that person the exclusive right to the use of the mark in relation to those goods or services.

(2) The exclusive right to the use of a certification trade mark given under sub-section (1) shall be subject to any conditions and limitations to which the registration is subject.

India Trademark - SECTION 34

Saving for vested rights.

Nothing in this Act shall entitle the proprietor or a registered user of registered trade mark to interfere with or restrain the use by any person of a trade mark identical with or nearly resembling it in relation to goods or services in relation to which that person or a predecessor in title of his has continuously used that trade mark from a date prior—

(a) to the use of the first-mentioned trade mark in relation to those goods or services by the proprietor or a predecessor in title of his; or

(b) to the date of registration of the first-mentioned trade mark in respect of those goods or services in the name of the proprietor of a predecessor in title of his;whichever is the earlier, and the Registrar shall not refuse (on such use being proved) to register the second mentioned trade mark by reason only of the registration of the first-mentioned trade mark.

India Trademark - SECTION 35

Saving for use of name, address or description of goods or services.

Nothing in this Act shall entitle the proprietor or a registered user of a registered trade mark to interfere with any bona fide use by a person of his own name or that of his place of business, or of the name, or of the name of the place of business, of any of his predecessors in business, or the use by any person of any bona fide description of the character or quality of his goods or services.

India Trademark - SECTION 76

Acts not constituting infringement of certification trade marks.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the following acts do not constitute an infringement of the right to the use of a registered certification trade mark—

(a) where a certification trade mark is registered subject to any conditions or limitations entered on the register, the use of any such mark in any mode, in relation to goods to be sold or otherwise traded in any place, or in relation to goods to be exported to any market or in relation to services for use or available for acceptance in any place, country or territory or in any other circumstances, to which having regard to any such limitations, the registration does not extend;

(b) the use of a certification trade mark in relation to goods or services certified by the proprietor of the mark if, as to those goods or services or a bulk of which they form part, the proprietor or another in accordance with his authorization under the relevant regulations has applied the mark and has not subsequently removed or obliterated it, or the proprietor has at any time expressly or impliedly consented to the use of the mark;

(c) the use of a certification trade mark in relation to goods or services adapted to form part of, or to be accessory to, other goods in relation to which the mark has been used without infringement of the right given as aforesaid or might for the time being be so used, if the use of the mark is reasonably necessary in order to indicate that the goods or services are so adapted and neither the purpose nor the effect of the use of the mark is to indicate otherwise than in accordance with the fact that the goods or services are certified by the proprietor.

(2) Clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall not apply to the case of use consisting of the application of a certification trade mark to goods or services, notwithstanding that they are such goods or services as are mentioned in that clause if such application is contrary to the regulations referred to in that clause.

(3) Where a certification trade mark is one of two or more trade marks registered under this Act, which are identical or nearly resemble each other, the use of any of those trade marks in exercise of the right to the use of that trade mark given by registration, shall not be deemed to be an infringement of the right so given to the use of any other of those trade marks.

India Trademark - SECTION 139

Power to require goods to show indication of origin.

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, require that goods of any class specified in the notification which are made or produced beyond the limits of India and imported into India, or, which are made or produced within the limits of India, shall, from such date as may be appointed by the notification not being less than three months from its issue, have applied to them an indication of the country or place in which they were made or produced, or of the name and address of the manufacturer or the person for whom the goods were manufactured.

(2) The notification may specify the manner in which such indication shall be applied that is to say, whether to goods themselves or in any other manner, and the times or occasions on which the presence of the indication shall be necessary, that is to say, whether on importation only, or also at the time of sale, whether by wholesale or retail or both.

(3) No notification under this section shall be issued, unless application is made for its issue by persons or associations substantially representing the interests of dealers in, or manufacturers, producers, or users of, the goods concerned, or unless the Central Government is otherwise convinced that it is necessary in the public interest to issue the notification, with or without such inquiry, as the Central Government may consider necessary.

(4) The provisions of section 23 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897) shall apply to the issue of a notification under this section as they apply to the making of a rule or bye-law the making of which is subject to the condition of previous publication.

(5) A notification under this section shall not apply to goods made or produced beyond the limits of India and imported into India, if in respect of those goods, the Commissioner of Customs is satisfied at the time of importation that they are intended for exportation whether after transshipment in or transit through India or otherwise.

India Trademark - SECTION 56

Use of trade mark for export trade and use when form of trade connection changes.

(1) The application in India of trade mark to goods to be exported from India or in relation to services for use outside India and any other act done in India in relation to goods to be so exported or services so rendered outside India which, if done in relation to goods to be sold or services provided or otherwise traded in within India would constitute use of a trade mark therein, shall be deemed to constitute use of the trade mark in relation to those goods or services for any purpose for which such use is material under this Act or any other law.

(2) The use of a registered trade mark in relation to goods or services between which and the person using the mark any form of connection in the course of trade subsists shall not be deemed to be likely to cause deception or confusion on the ground only that the mark has been or is used in relation to goods or services between which and the said person or a predecessor in title of that person a different form of connection in the course of trade subsisted or subsists.

India Trademark - SECTION 103

Penalty for applying false trade marks, trade descriptions, etc.

Any person who—

(a) falsifies any trade mark; or

(b) falsely applies to goods or services any trade mark; or

(c) makes, disposes of, or has in his possession, any die, block, machine, plate or other instrument for the purpose of falsifying or of being used for falsifying, a trade mark; or

(d) applies any false trade description to goods or services; or

(e) applies to any goods to which an indication of the country or place in which they were made or produced or the name and address of the manufacturer or person for whom the goods are manufactured is required to be applied under section 139, a false indication of such country, place, name or address; or

(f) tampers with, alters or effaces an indication of origin which has been applied to any goods to which it is required to be applied under section 139; or

(g) causes any of the things above mentioned in this section to be done,

shall, unless he proves that he acted, without intent to defraud, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees:

Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than six months or a fine of less than fifty thousand rupees.

India Trademark - SECTION 104

Penalty for selling goods or providing services to which false trade mark or false trade description is applied.

Any person who sells, lets for hire or exposes for sale, or hires or has in his possession for sale, goods or things, or provides or hires services, to which any false trade mark or false trade description is applied or which, being required under section 139 to have applied to them an indication of the country or place in which they were made or produced or the name and address of the manufacturer, or person for whom the goods are manufactured or services provided, as the case may be, are without the indications so required, shall, unless he proves,

(a) that, having taken all reasonable precautions against committing an offence against this section, he had at the time of commission of the alleged offense no reason to suspect the genuineness of the trade mark or trade description or that any offence had been committed in respect of the goods or services; or

(b) that, on demand by or on behalf of the prosecutor, he gave all the information in his power with respect to the person from whom he obtained such goods or things or services; or

(c) that otherwise he had acted innocently,

be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees:

Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than six months or a fine of less than fifty thousand rupees.

India Trademark - SECTION 81

Stamping of piece goods, cotton yarn and thread.

 Omitted by s. 7, Trade Marks (Amendment) Act, 2010 (40 of 2010) (w.e.f. 8-7-2013).

India Trademark - SECTION 102

Falsifying and falsely applying trade marks.

(1) A person shall be deemed to falsify a trade mark who, either,

(a) without the assent of the proprietor of the trade mark makes that trade mark or a deceptively similar mark; or

(b) falsifies any genuine trade mark, whether by alteration, addition, effacement or otherwise.

(2) A person shall be deemed to falsely apply to goods or services a trade mark who, without the assent of the proprietor of the trade mark,

(a) applies such trade mark or a deceptively similar mark to goods or services or any package containing goods;

(b) uses any package bearing a mark which is identical with or deceptively similar to the trade mark of such proprietor, for the purpose of packing, filling or wrapping therein any goods other than the genuine goods of the proprietor of the trade mark.

(3) Any trade mark falsified as mentioned in sub-section (1) or falsely applied as mentioned in sub-section (2), is in this Act referred to as a false trade mark.

(4) In any prosecution for falsifying a trade mark or falsely applying a trade mark to goods or services, the burden of proving the assent of the proprietor shall lie on the accused.

India Trademark - SECTION 105

Enhanced penalty on second or subsequent conviction.

Whoever having already been convicted of an offence under section 103 or section 104 is again convicted of any such offence shall be punishable for the second and for every subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees:

Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reason to be mentioned in the judgement, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than one year or a fine of less than one lakh rupees:

Provided further that for the purposes of this section, no cognizance shall be taken of any conviction made before the commencement of this Act.

India Trademark - SECTION 108

Penalty for improperly describing a place of business as connected with the Trade Marks Office.

If any person uses on his place of business, or on any document issued by him, or otherwise, words which would reasonably lead to the belief that his place of business is, or is officially connected with, the Trade Marks Office, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

India Trademark - SECTION 109

Penalty for falsification of entries in the register.

If any person makes, or causes to be made, a false entry in the register, or a writing falsely purporting to be a copy of an entry in the register, or produces or tenders or causes to be produced or tendered, in evidence any such writing, knowing the entry or writing to be false, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

India Trademark - SECTION 107

Penalty for falsely representing a trade mark as registered.

(1) No person shall make any representation—

(a) with respect to a mark, not being a registered trade mark, to the effect that it is a registered trade mark; or

(b) with respect to a part of a registered trade mark, not being a part separately registered as a trade mark, to the effect that it is separately registered as a trade mark; or

(c) to the effect that a registered trade mark is registered in respect of any goods or services in respect of which it is not in fact registered; or

(d) to the effect that registration of a trade mark gives an exclusive right to the use thereof in any circumstances in which, having regard to limitation entered on the register, the registration does not in fact give that right.

(2) If any person contravenes any of the provisions of sub-section (1), he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the use in India in relation to a trade mark of the word ―registered‖, or of any other expression, symbol or sign referring whether expressly or impliedly to registration, shall be deemed to import a reference to registration in the register, except—

(a) where that word or other expression, symbol or sign is used in direct association with other words delineated in characters at least as large as those in which that word or other expression, symbol or sign is delineated and indicating that the reference is to registration as a trade mark under the law of a country outside India being a country under the law of which the registration referred to is in fact in force; or

(b) where that other expression, symbol or sign is of itself such as to indicate that the reference is to such registration as is mentioned in clause (a); or

(c) where that word is used in relation to a mark registered as a trade mark under the law of a country outside India and in relation solely to goods to be exported to that country or in relation to services for use in that country.

India Trademark - SECTION 54

Registered user not to have right of assignment or transmission.

Nothing in this Act shall confer on a registered user of a trade mark any assignable or transmissible right to the use thereof.

Explanation I.—The right of a registered user of a trade mark shall not be deemed to have been assigned or transmitted within the meaning of this section in the following cases, namely:—

(a) where the registered user being an individual enters into a partnership with any other person for carrying on the business concerned; but in any such case the firm may use the trade mark, if otherwise in force, only for so long as the registered user is a member of the firm;

(b) where the registered user being a firm subsequently undergoes a change in its constitution; but in any such case the reconstituted firm may use the trade mark, if otherwise in force, only for so long as any partner of the original firm at the time of its registration as registered user, continues to be a partner of the reconstituted firm.

Explanation II.—For the purposes of Explanation I, ―firm‖ has the same meaning as in the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 (9 of 1932).

India Trademark - SECTION 39

 Assignability and transmissibility of unregistered trade marks.

An unregistered trade mark may be assigned or transmitted with or without the goodwill of the business concerned.

India Trademark - SECTION 64

Acceptance of application and regulations by Registrar.

If it appears to the Registrar that the requirements for registration are satisfied, he shall accept the application together with the regulations, either unconditionally or subject to such conditions including amendments of the said regulations, if any, as he may deem fit or refuse to accept it and if accepted shall notify the regulations.

India Trademark - SECTION 45

Registration of assignments and transmissions.

(1) Where a person becomes entitled by assignment or transmission to a registered trade mark, he shall apply in the prescribed manner to the Registrar to register his title, and the Registrar shall, on receipt of the application, register him as the proprietor of the trade mark in respect of the goods or services in respect of which the assignment or transmission has effect, and shall cause particulars of such assignment or transmission to be entered on the register.

(2) The Registrar may require the applicant to furnish evidence or further evidence in proof of title only where there is a reasonable doubt about the veracity of any statement or any document furnished.

(3) Where the validity of an assignment or transmission is in dispute between the parties, the Registrar may refuse to register the assignment or transmission until the rights of the parties have been determined by a competent court and in all other cases the Registrar shall dispose of the application within the prescribed period.

(4) Until an application under sub-section (1) has been filed, the assignment or transmission shall be ineffective against a person acquiring a conflicting interest in or under the registered trade mark without the knowledge of assignment or transmission.] Subs. by Act 40 of 2010, s. 6, for section 45 (w.e.f. 8-7-2013).

India Trademark - SECTION 40

Restriction on assignment or transmission where multiple exclusive rights would be created.

(1) Notwithstanding anything in sections 38 and 39, a trade mark shall not be assignable or transmissible in a case in which as a result of the assignment or transmission there would in the circumstances subsist, whether under this Act or any other law, exclusive rights in more than one of the persons concerned to the use, in relation to—

(a) same goods or services;

(b) same description of goods or services;

(c) goods or services or description of goods or services which are associated with each other, of trade marks nearly resembling each other or of identical trade mark, if having regard to the similarity of the goods and services and to the similarity of the trade marks, the use of the trade marks in exercise of those rights would be likely to deceive or cause confusion:

Provided that an assignment or transmission shall not be deemed to be invalid under this sub-section if the exclusive rights subsisting as a result thereof in the persons concerned respectively are, having regard to limitations imposed thereon, such as not to be exercisable by two or more of those persons in relation to goods to be sold, or otherwise traded in, within India otherwise than for export therefrom, or in relation to goods to be exported to the same market outside India or in relation to services for use at any place in India or any place outside India in relation to services available for acceptance in India.

(2) The proprietor of a registered trade mark who proposes to assign it may submit to the Registrar in the prescribed manner a statement of case setting out the circumstances and the Registrar may issue to him a certificate stating whether, having regard to the similarity of the goods or services and of the trade marks referred to in the case, the proposed assignment would or would not be invalid under sub-section (1), and a certificate so issued shall, subject to appeal and unless it is shown that the certificate was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation, be conclusive as to the validity or invalidity under sub-section (1) of the assignment in so far as such validity or invalidity depends upon the facts set out in the case, but, as regards a certificate in favour of validity, only if application for the registration under section 45 of the title of the person becoming entitled is made within six months from the date on which the certificate is issued.

India Trademark - SECTION 47

Removal from register and imposition of limitations on ground of non-use.

(1) A registered trade mark may be taken off the register in respect of the goods or services in respect of which it is registered on application made in the prescribed manner to the Registrar or the [High Court] Subs. by s. 21, ibid., for “Appellate Board” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) by any person aggrieved on the ground either—

(a) that the trade mark was registered without any bona fide intention on the part of the applicant for registration that it should be used in relation to those goods or services by him or, in a case to which the provisions of section 46 apply, by the company concerned or the registered user, as the case may be, and that there has, in fact, been no bona fide use of the trade mark in relation to those goods or services by any proprietor thereof for the time being up to a date three months before the date of the application; or

(b) that up to a date three months before the date of the application, a continuous period of five years from the date on which the trade mark is actually entered in the register or longer had elapsed during which the trade mark was registered and during which there was no bona fide use thereof in relation to those goods or services by any proprietor thereof for the time being:

Provided that except where the applicant has been permitted under section 12 to register an identical or nearly resembling trade mark in respect of the goods or services in question, or where the [Registrar or the High Court as the case maybe] Subs. by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21, for “tribunal” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) is of opinion that he might properly be permitted so to register such a trade mark, the [Registrar or the High Court as the case maybe ]Subs. by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21, for “tribunal” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) may refuse an application under clause (a) or clause (b) in relation to any goods or services, if it is shown that there has been, before the relevant date or during the relevant period, as the case may be, bona fide use of the trade mark by any proprietor thereof for the time being in relation to—

(i) goods or services of the same description; or

(ii) goods or services associated with those goods or services of that description being goods or services, as the case may be, in respect of which the trade mark is registered.

(2) Where in relation to any goods or services in respect of which a trade mark is registered—

(a) the circumstances referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) are shown to exist so far as regards non-use of the trade mark in relation to goods to be sold, or otherwise traded in a particular place in India (otherwise than for export from India), or in relation to goods to be exported to a particular market outside India; or in relation to services for use or available for acceptance in a particular place in India or for use in a particular market outside India; and

(b) a person has been permitted under section 12 to register an identical or nearly resembling trade mark in respect of those goods, under a registration extending to use in relation to goods to be so sold, or otherwise traded in, or in relation to goods to be so exported, or in relation to services for use or available for acceptance in that place or for use in that country, or the tribunal is of opinion that he might properly be permitted so to register such a trade mark, on application by that person in the prescribed manner to the [High Court] Subs. by s. 21, ibid., for “Appellate Board” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) or to the Registrar, the tribunal may impose on the registration of the first-mentioned trade mark such limitations as it thinks proper for securing that that registration shall cease to extend to such use.

(3) An applicant shall not be entitled to rely for the purpose of clause (b) of sub-section (1) or for the purposes of sub-section (2) on any non-use of a trade mark which is shown to have been due to special circumstances in the trade, which includes restrictions on the use of the trade mark in India imposed by any law or regulation and not to any intention to abandon or not to use the trade mark in relation to the goods or services to which the application relates.

India Trademark - SECTION 46

Proposed use of trade mark by company to be formed, etc.

(1) No application for the registration of a trade mark in respect of any goods or services shall be refused nor shall permission for such registration be withheld, on the ground only that it appears that the applicant does not use or propose to use the trade mark if the Registrar is satisfied that—

(a) a company is about to be formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) and that the applicant intends to assign the trade mark to that company with a view to the use thereof in relation to those goods or services by the company, or

(b) the proprietor intends it to be used by a person, as a registered user after the registration of the trade mark.

(2) The provisions of section 47 shall have effect, in relation to a trade mark registered under the powers conferred by this sub-section, as if for the reference, in clause (a) of sub-section (1) of that section, to the intention on the part of an applicant for registration that a trade mark should be used by him there were substituted a reference to the intention on his part that it should be used by the company or registered user concerned.

(3) The [Registrar or the High Court as the case maybe] Subs. by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21, for “tribunal” (w.e.f. 4-4-2021) may, in a case to which sub-section (1) applies, require the applicant to give security for the costs of any proceedings relating to any opposition or appeal, and in default of such security being duly given, may treat the application as abandoned.

(4) Where in a case to which sub-section (1) applies, a trade mark in respect of any goods or services is registered in the name of an applicant who, relies on intention to assign the trade mark to a company, then, unless within such period as may be prescribed or within such further period not exceeding six months as the Registrar may, on application being made to him in the prescribed manner, allow, the company has been registered as the proprietor of the trade mark in respect of those goods or services, the registration shall cease to have effect in respect thereof at the expiration of that period and the Registrar shall amend the register accordingly.

India Trademark - SECTION 2

Definitions and interpretation.—

 

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) Clauses (a), (d) and (f) omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021).

(b) “assignment” means an assignment in writing by act of the parties concerned;

(c) “associated trade marks” means trade marks deemed to be, or required to be, registered as associated trade marks under this Act;

(dClauses (a), (d) and (f) omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021).

(e) “certification trade mark” means a mark capable of distinguishing the goods or services in connection with which it is used in the course of trade which are certified by the proprietor of the mark in respect of origin, material, mode of manufacture of goods or performance of services, quality, accuracy or other characteristics from goods or services not so certified and registrable as such under Chapter IX in respect of those goods or services in the name, as proprietor of the certification trade mark, of that person;

(fClauses (a), (d) and (f) omitted by Act 33 of 2021, s. 21 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021).

(g) “collective mark” means a trade mark distinguishing the goods or services of members of an association of persons (not being a partnership within the meaning of the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 (9 of 1932) which is the proprietor of the mark from those of others;

(h) “deceptively similar”.—A mark shall be deemed to be deceptively similar to another mark if it so nearly resembles that other mark as to be likely to deceive or cause confusion;