A patent is a right granted to an individual or enterprise by the government that excludes others from making, using, selling or importing the patented product or process without prior approval. In exchange for this right, the applicant must fully disclose the minutae of the invention. A patent for a product or process that proves successful can give its owner a serious competitive advantage over rivals. It is valid for 20 years, after which it falls into the public domain. A patentable invention can be any art, process, method or manner of manufacture; machine, apparatus or other articles; substances produced by manufacturing; computer software with technical application to industry or used with hardware; and product patent for food, chemicals, medicines and drugs.

PERMANENT PATENT PROCESS

1.Patent Search: You would need to send in all the details regarding the patent search, including uses of the invention, benefits over existing products or processes and information regarding its publication in a recognised journal, if any. Try to make these details specific, as this would ease the search process. A patent attorney, our affiliate, will take up your request and conduct a thorough search of the database.

[Time to Complete: 7 to 9 working days]

2. Filing of Application: Within a week of receiving confirmation that the product or process is patentable, the application will be skillfully drafted by the attorney, ensuring that the patent provides the widest protection to your invention. Once this is done, the application is filed with the Registrar. The time it takes to file this application would depend on the scope of

the invention, the industries it is applicable to and the number of similar existing products/processes

[Time to Complete: 20 working days]

3. Patent Grant: After 12 to 15 months of filing the initial application, the patent is published in recognised patent journals (this can be reduced to just 10 to 15 days on payment of fast-track fees of Rs. 2600). If all is in order, the examination process will commence. Examination is conducted by a government-appointed patent officer. If everything is found in order, the patent is granted and later issued. We shall assist you throughout the process, should you have any queries.

[Time to Complete: 24 months]