Patent rights refer to the intellectual property rights granted to an individual or entity for their creative product or a formal document that bestows exclusive rights to a unique invention. When a creative invention is deemed unique, the government grants the individual or entity complete freedom over their product. This includes the exclusive right to produce, use, trade, or import the product or process, while prohibiting others from replicating it. In India, the regulation of patents falls under the ‘Patent Act 1970’ and ‘Patent Rules 1972.’
A registered patent typically enjoys protection for approximately 20 years. Patents can be registered for various processes, encompassing artistic creations, manufacturing techniques, machinery, specific apparatuses, technological applications or apps, computer software, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and more.
Inventions that are novel, non-obvious, and industrially applicable are eligible for patent protection. This can include products, processes, machines, compositions of matter, and improvements.
Typically, a patent lasts for 20 years from the filing date. After this period, the invention enters the public domain.
No, patents are territorial rights. However, there are international mechanisms, such as the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), that simplify the process of seeking protection in multiple countries.
