Patent

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has, on March 15, 2024, notified the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024 to amend the Patents Rules, 2003 (“Amended Rules”), making significant changes to Indian patent practice and procedure. The Amended Rules have already come into effect from the date of publication, i.e., March 15, 2024. ......

Among the many exclusions to patentability, the Indian Patents Act, 1970 (“the Act”) also excludes “diagnostic methods” under Section 3(i). But the term itself has been applied inconsistently by the Indian Patent Office (“IPO”). This note discusses a recent decision of the Madras High Court on the interpretation of this term and its implications on related patent applications. ......

Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) are no longer just basic interfaces; but are an integral component of the user experience. From AI powered chatbots that assist a user, to virtual reality experiences, there have been significant innovations in this field. Globally, the number of patent applications published in the field of GUIs has nearly doubled in the past three years, with over 20,000 published in 2023 alone. ......

Filing a patent in your home jurisdiction is merely the beginning of building a patent portfolio. Depending on the subject matter of the patent, and the business model, it would be strategic to also file related patents abroad. ......

In the last few years, the Indian government has taken various steps to reform the patent filing process in India and strengthen the Indian IP ecosystem. In the latest series of developments, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (“MoCI”) published draft Patents (2nd Amendment) Rules, 2024 (“the draft Rules") on January 2, 2024, seeking comments from the public and/or any stakeholders. Public comments to the draft Rules are invited until February 2, 2024. ......

A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court has brought much-required clarity on filing of divisional applications in India, which at least two different single judge benches of the same court had disagreed upon previously. ......

When is a new product considered a mere discovery of something that subsists in nature and thus unpatentable, and when is it altogether new or unfamiliar, and thus, worthy of being granted a patent? This is the question that the Delhi High Court tackled in the recent case of Diamond Star Global SDN BHD v Joint Controller of Patents. ......

Over 100 million animals are used in laboratory experiments worldwide every year. These are only estimates; the exact number is unknown and could possibly even be higher. These animals are either killed outright in scientific procedures, or used to assess the safety and efficacy of drugs and cosmetics. ......

Before a new drug, biologic or medical device is approved and authorized for market launch, it has to undergo a long and complex process involving extensive testing and clinical trials to ensure its safety and efficacy. However, for patients who have exhausted all other options, sometimes an unapproved or pre-approved or investigational drug could be the only hope. ......