Significance of Seeking Permission To File Patent Applications Outside India
FollowIntroduction
A resident of India might be interested in filing a patent application outside India, driven by various reasons. In such a scenario, one may choose to:
1. File a patent application outside India without filing a patent application in India; or
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has been given under sub-section (1) of section 35 in relation to the application in India, or all such directions have been revoked.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.
Interpretation of governing statute
Even though not explicit from the above statute, our interpretation is that, the term “person” in the above section refers to “inventors” and not necessarily the “applicants” of the patent. Further, it shall be noted that, if at least one of the inventors who may be named in the patent application is a resident of India, then the above section is of relevance. Note that, a foreign citizen can be a resident of India, and likewise, an Indian citizen can be a resident of a foreign country. Hence, one will have to consider where the inventors are residing and not necessarily their citizenship, while applying the above section.
Further, one will have to procure a FFL if one of the inventors is a resident of India, and the first patent application is being filed outside India. It shall be noted that a PCT application, with the Indian Patent Office as the receiving office, can still be considered as a patent application filed outside India.
Another scenario in which FFL will have to be procured is when a patent application has been filed in India, and a subsequent patent application has to be filed within 6 weeks from the date of filing the Indian patent application. On the other hand, a FFL will not be required if 6 weeks have passed since the filing of the Indian patent application, and there has been no secrecy direction issued by the Indian Patent Office.
Obtaining permission to file the patent application outside India
A FFL can be obtained by disclosing to the Indian Patent Office the subject matter on which patent application is sought to be filed. The request is made in a particular form and a fee of INR 4000 (INR 1000 if applicant is a natural person) is applicable. The time within which the IPO grants permission is twenty one (21) days of filing the request. In cases the invention is related to defense or atomic energy, such permission may be denied by the IPO.
Consequences contravening section 39
Contravention of Section 39 can result in criminal liability under Section 118 and abandoning of Indian Patent Application or revocation of Indian Patent, if any, under Section 40.
Under Section 118, contravention of Section 39 shall be punishable with imprisonmentfor a term, which may extend totwo years, or with fine, or both. However, those in the known can provide examples of contravention of Section 39, but enforcement of penalties under Section 118 is yet to be seen.
Filing a national phase patent application in India after filing a PCT application
Precautions to be taken before filing a foreign patent application by Indian residents
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