Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2016 - (16 May 2016)

MANU/INDP/0013/2016

Intellectual Property Rights

The Central Government introduced a comprehensive reworking of the Patents Rules 2003.

Emphasis is on offering faster patent registration services, particularly cheaper and faster services for ‘startups’.

The new rules provide definition of a ‘startup’, however leave much room for discretion. Aside from excluding companies formed from ‘splitting up’ of larger entities, the rules also provide that “the mere act of developing products or services or processes…” will not be sufficient to constitute a startup.

Not quite mandatory, but persons involved in patent proceedings will have to furnish additional contact details to the Controller. These include an address for service, a postal address in India and an e-mail address.

Not long after, however, the Office of the Controller General Patents, Designs and Trade Marks issued a clarification regarding the new Rules. These include submission of original documents after electronically filing the same; and time for putting the application in order.

Relevant : National Intellectual Property Rights Policy

Tags : PATENT RULES STARTUP EXPEDITE FEE