Patent

One of the three universal requirements for the grant of a patent is that the patent must be for a new invention. The Indian Patents Act, 1970 (the Act) defines a ‘new invention’ in Section 2(l) as ‘any invention or technology which has not been anticipated by publication in any document or used in the country or elsewhere in the world before the date of filing of patent application with complete specification. ......

You have a new and innovative solution (for example, a product or a method) that solves a problem. You want to apply for a patent covering that solution. To discuss the patent application, you set up an appointment with a drafting patent attorney. ......

If a patent application discloses any nucleotide or amino acid sequences, the description of the invention must contain a ‘sequence listing’. A sequence listing is a list of biological sequences using defined terms for certain features. This includes descriptive information about each sequence, which is known as annotations. ......

The timelines for completing various tasks or submitting various documents in the patent prosecution process differ depending on which stage a patent application is at. The various timelines involved in the grant of an Indian patent. ......

Patents help innovators shield their ideas from being copied by competitors. Having a patent separates you from the crowd and puts you one step ahead of others. But patents are not just about standing out in a crowd. They help beat competitors, earn royalty through licensing, bring others to trial, earn returns, create a defensive mechanism, and much more. There is a whole world of benefits that patents open up. ......

Tissue or organ replacement is a medical phenomenon that has saved human lives over the decades. With 3D bioprinting, where functional living human tissues and organs can be fabricated using 3D printing technology, the field has charted a new path, acquired more relevance, and provokes many questions, ethical, medical, legal and beyond. ......

Patent applications for inventions containing biological materials must fully and particularly describe such use of biological materials in the specification. The Indian Patents Act, 1970 (“the Act”) does not define biological materials, but guidance can be found in the European Convention, according to which biological material includes any material that contains genetic information and is capable of reproduction by itself. ......

Cosmetic compositions and methods, like any other inventions, are expected to meet the three step requirement of patentability in India before being granted protection under law, i.e., the invention must meet the criteria of “Novelty”, “Inventive step” and “Industrial Application”. ......

Stem cells are cells that can differentiate or develop into many different types of cells. This unique characteristic grants them great medical significance as they can unravel many secrets about living organisms, diseases, and mortality, and may even be able to treat them. ......