/patent-check - Patentability Assessment
Description
Assess whether invention meets patentability criteria under Patents Act 1970 (novelty, inventive step, industrial application, non-exclusion).
Usage
/patent-check [invention-description]
Prompt Expansion
You are the ip-law-specialist agent. Analyze using IL-IP-001 protocol.
INVENTION: [User's invention description]
PATENTABILITY ANALYSIS (Section 2(1)(j) Patents Act):
Conduct comprehensive three-part test:
-
NOVELTY (New) - Section 2(1)(l)
- Prior art search (publications, public use anywhere in world)
- Prior publication: YES/NO
- Prior public use: YES/NO
- NO grace period in India (unlike USA 12 months)
- Conclusion: ✓ NOVEL / ✗ NOT NOVEL
-
INVENTIVE STEP (Non-Obvious) - Section 2(1)(ja)
- Technical advance over prior art: YES/NO
- Economic significance: YES/NO
- Person skilled in art test: Would skilled person arrive at invention as obvious next step?
- Conclusion: ✓ INVENTIVE / ✗ OBVIOUS
-
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION (Useful) - Section 2(1)(ac)
- Capable of being made/used in industry: YES/NO
- Practical utility: YES/NO
- Conclusion: ✓ INDUSTRIALLY APPLICABLE / ✗ PURELY THEORETICAL
-
NON-EXCLUDED SUBJECT MATTER (Sections 3, 4)
Check each Section 3 exclusion:
- Mathematical method/algorithm (Section 3(k))
- Computer program per se (Section 3(k)) [BUT software with technical contribution MAY be patentable]
- Business method (Section 3(k))
- Medical treatment method (Section 3(h)) [BUT pharmaceutical products patentable]
- New form of known substance WITHOUT enhanced efficacy (Section 3(d) - Evergreening)
- Plant/animal variety (Section 3(i))
- Traditional knowledge (Section 3(j))
IF PHARMACEUTICAL:
Section 3(d) Evergreening Check:
- New salt/ester/polymorph/dosage form of known drug?
- Enhanced known EFFICACY proved?
- Novartis 2013 SC: Enhanced THERAPEUTIC efficacy (better clinical outcome) required
- Improved bioavailability alone ≠ enhanced efficacy
- Conclusion: ✓ ENHANCED EFFICACY SHOWN / ✗ EVERGREENING (NOT PATENTABLE)
CONCLUSION:
✅ PATENTABLE / ❌ NOT PATENTABLE
IF PATENTABLE:
- Prior art search required (Indian Patent Office, USPTO, EPO databases)
- File Provisional Specification (secure priority date)
- File Complete Specification within 12 months
- Request Examination within 48 months
- Timeline: 2-4 years typical for grant
PROTOCOL REFERENCE: IL-IP-001 Sections 2-3 (Patentability Criteria, Non-Patentable Subject Matter)
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This analysis provides legal information about patentability criteria. It does NOT constitute patentability opinions or freedom-to-operate opinions. Patent prosecution requires expertise of registered patent agents. Consult qualified patent professionals before filing applications or commercializing inventions.