The InPASS Patent E-register tab: enter the granted patent number and CAPTCHA

Why this tool exists

An Indian patent's 20-year term is conditional: renewal fees fall due every year from year 3, rising with age. Many patents are deliberately allowed to lapse mid-life when they stop justifying the fee. The E-register is the authoritative public record of that life-and-death ledger — which makes it the tool for three very practical questions:

1. "Can this patent still be enforced against me?" (freedom-to-operate)
2. "Is my own patent's renewal paid up?" (portfolio hygiene — missed renewals are a leading cause of accidental loss)
3. "Is this patent worth licensing/buying?" (due diligence)

Step-by-step

1. Open the E-register tab — one field: granted patent number (not the application number; the record's bibliographic view maps one to the other).
2. Solve the CAPTCHA → Show E-Register.
3. Read the record: patentee name/address, date of patent, status (in force / ceased), and the renewal payment history — which years were paid, and when the next fee falls due.

Reading it correctly — three traps

1. "Ceased" doesn't always mean free-to-use. A patent lapsed for non-payment can be restored within 18 months (Section 60) if the lapse was unintentional — and rights may partially revive. A recently-ceased patent is a yellow flag, not a green one.
2. In-force ≠ infringed. Whether your product actually falls within the claims is a separate, claims-level analysis — the E-register only answers "is it alive".
3. One patent is rarely the whole story. The same invention may have related filings (divisionals, family members abroad). A proper freedom-to-operate search maps the whole minefield, not one mine.

For patent owners: the renewal discipline

• Fees run year 3 through year 20, payable annually (or in lump periods), amounts rising with age; small entities/startups pay reduced official fees.
• A 6-month grace period with surcharge exists — after that, cessation and the restoration gamble.
• Diary the dates or use a professional annuity service; the E-register is your audit trail that payments actually registered. (We manage renewal calendars for clients as part of patent prosecution & portfolio support.)

FAQ

Is the E-register the same as Application Status? No — E-register covers granted patents' life status; Application Status tracks pending applications through examination. (Pending application? See our our application-status guide.)

I only have the application number, not the patent number. Look the application up via Patent Search (field: Application Number) — the granted record shows the patent number; then use E-register.

How current is the data? Generally reliable but can lag recent payments by days. For a transaction or litigation decision, verify with a certified register extract from the Patent Office.

Can a lapsed patent block my product launch? If restoration is still possible (within 18 months of cessation), treat it as potentially alive. Beyond that window, that specific patent can't revive — but related rights may exist. Get an FTO opinion before betting a launch on it.

Do these renewals apply to design registrations too? Designs have their own scheme (10 years + one 5-year extension, single renewal) — see our design registration page.

Making a build-or-launch decision that hinges on someone’s patent? Get a freedom-to-operate opinion before you commit.

This guide is for general information and education only and is not legal advice.

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The InPASS Application Status tab: enter the application number and CAPTCHA

Checking status: the two routes

1. Direct: InPASS → Application Status tab → application number (from your filing receipt, e.g. 202641088324) → CAPTCHA → status view.
2. From a search: every InPASS search-result row has an "Application Status" shortcut — useful when tracking a competitor's application you found by keyword. (Full search walkthrough: see our complete InPASS guide.)

What the status stages mean — and what to do at each

(Statuses shown by the portal vary slightly in wording; the stages above are the canonical prosecution path.)

Reading between the lines

• Status lags reality by days — a reply filed yesterday may not show.
• "Awaiting RFE" is the silent killer: nothing happens until you act, and the 31-month clock runs whether you watch it or not.
• Date discipline: deadlines run from priority/filing dates in the record — verify them against the bibliographic view (Patent Search route shows the full record).
• Checking a granted patent's current life (in force? lapsed?) is a different tool — the Patent E-register guide, not Application Status.

FAQ

Can I check someone else's application status? Yes — any application number works once the application is published. Competitor tracking is legal and routine.

The portal shows no result for my number. Check the format (no spaces), and note unpublished applications (first ~18 months) return nothing on public tools.

How long until an Indian patent is granted? Commonly 2–4 years filing-to-grant; expedited examination (eligible categories incl. startups) can compress it to under a year.

What is an FER and how serious is it? The First Examination Report lists the examiner's objections. Nearly every application receives one — it's the start of argumentation, not a rejection. The quality of the reply usually decides the outcome. (Our patent prosecution team handles FER responses and hearings.)

My status says "deemed withdrawn" — is it over? Usually it means a mandatory deadline (often the RFE) passed. Options are narrow and time-sensitive — take advice immediately.

Received an FER, or unsure what your status requires next? Talk to our patent prosecution team — deadline-driven, fixed-fee responses.

This guide is for general information and education only and is not legal advice.

The post How to Check Patent Application Status in India (and What Each Stage Means) appeared first on Intellect Vidhya Solutions.

If you’re a YouTuber, whether you’re just starting out or already have a sizeable following, understanding your intellectual property (IP) rights isn’t just important – it’s essential. But don’t worry, this article got you covered.

Copyrights

Copyright protects original works of authorship, including videos, music, scripts, and other audiovisual content. It grants the creator exclusive rights to use, distribute, and modify their work. It automatically safeguards your original work without the need for registration. However, it is always advisable to get your work protected under copyright as it will serve as strong evidence of your ownership.

Key points about copyright in India:

1. Automatic Protection: Your videos, scripts, music, and channel art are protected as soon as you create them.
2. Duration: As per Indian Copyright Act, 1957, Copyright protection lasts for the creator’s lifetime plus 60 years after their death.
3. Eligibility: To be regarded as eligible for copyright protection your work must fulfil the criteria of originality and fixation. Where originality requires your work to be new and not copied from anywhere, whereas fixation means that the work must be fixed on a tangible medium.
4. Fair Use Doctrine: Indian copyright law recognizes fair use, which allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. However, this is a grey area and should be approached cautiously.
5. Attribution: Give credit to any third-party content used in your videos.

The copyright registration process in India involves:

1. Submitting an application to the Copyright Office
2. Paying a fee (The official fee depends on the nature of the work you’re seeking copyright protection for)
3. Providing copies of your work and sometimes an affidavit to sworn on the ownership on the work.

It’s advisable to register copyright for your most valuable content or elements used across multiple videos.

Trademarks

In Indian law, a trademark is a unique sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others. For YouTubers, this can include:

1. Channel names
2. Logos
3. Catchphrases
4. Distinctive sounds or jingles

If you have a unique channel name, logo, or catchphrase, registering it as a trademark can prevent others from using similar marks that could confuse your audience.

Trademarks offer several benefits:

1. Exclusive Rights: You can prevent others from using similar names or logos in the same field.
2. Brand Protection: It safeguards your identity and reputation.
3. Monetization: Trademarks can be licensed or merchandised.
4. Legal Recourse: Registered trademarks provide stronger grounds for legal action against infringement.

Steps to Protect Your Trademark:

1. Search and Clearance: Conduct a trademark search to ensure your mark is unique.
2. Registration: Apply for trademark registration with the Indian Trademark Office.
3. Usage: Consistently use the symbol with your unregistered trademark and the ® symbol once registered.

Patents

Patents protect inventions and grant the patent holder exclusive rights to use and exploit the invention for a specified period.While patents are less common for YouTubers, if you create a unique technology or software for video production, a patent might be applicable.

Eligibility for Patents

• Novelty: The invention must be new. It should not have been disclosed to the public in any form prior to the date of the patent application.
• Inventive Step: The invention must involve an inventive step that is not obvious to a person skilled in the art. It should not be an obvious improvement or modification of existing knowledge.
• Industrial Applicability: The invention must be capable of being used in some kind of industry. It should have practical utility and be operable.

How It Applies to YouTubers

For YouTubers, patents might be relevant if they develop new technology, tools, or processes related to their content creation. This could include:

• Video Editing Software: Innovative software for editing videos in unique ways.
• Filming Equipment: Custom-designed cameras, mounts, or lighting setups.
• Interactive Content: New methods for creating interactive or augmented reality content.

Best Practices for YouTubers

1. Create Original Content: Always strive to create unique and original content.
2. Give Credit: Properly attribute any third-party content used in your videos.
3. Understand Fair Use: Familiarize yourself with the fair use doctrine to avoid copyright issues.
4. Register Your IP: Register your copyrights, trademarks, and patents to strengthen your legal position.
5. Monitor Your Content: Regularly monitor for potential infringement and take appropriate action.

Conclusion

Understanding and protecting your intellectual property is crucial for YouTubers to ensure their creative efforts are safeguarded. By navigating the complexities of Indian IP law, YouTubers can focus on what they do best—creating engaging and innovative content for their audience.

Stay informed, stay protected, and keep creating!

Talk to our IP experts

The post <strong>Protect Your Content: Intellectual property Guide for Youtubers</strong> appeared first on Intellect Vidhya Solutions.

Now, inventive step being a subjective matter, it is quite unpredictable at times – the way of its interpretation may vary from person to person; thus, a dearth of uncertainty is always there till the end of the tunnel, i.e. till the grant of the patent. 

So let us first understand what actually is Inventive Step:

In the Indian Patents Act, 1970, Section 2(1)(ja) defines inventive step as:

““inventive step” means a feature of an invention that involves technical advance as compared to the existing knowledge or having economic significance or both and that makes the invention not obvious to a person skilled in the art;”

To check for the presence of inventive step in a patentable subject matter, the examiner is free to combine or even mosaic the teachings of multiple prior arts – and if the resultant of the mosaicking results in a subject matter which is closely related to the patentable subject matter in question, the inventive step of the subject matter stands objected. Which in other words, indicate that if the resultant effect of combined reading of the existing prior art results something which functions in the similar fashion or solves the similar issue or addresses the same issue as that of the present subject matter in question, then the same would not be considered to be having inventive step.

When it comes to economic significance as a part of inventive step assessment, it depends on the disclosure in the application document – which ideally is required to disclose how the present subject matter contributes to economy (for e.g.: 1/5^th of the price of a similar subject matter etc.). Economic significance is usually not that difficult to prove if the application already discloses the economic significance or if not, the applicant should be able to prove the same during the prosecution stage. 

The major challenge lies in identifying ‘a person skilled in the art’ because of the fact that ‘a person skilled in the art’ is not defined in the Indian Patents Act, 1970 – thus that always leaves the discretion to the examining authority with regard to identification of Inventive Step. Based on the case law evolution, it is generally followed that a person skilled in the art is one who:

• Belongs to the same field as that of the subject matter in question;
• Assess the subject matter based on his expertise or acquired knowledge in the same domain and is aware of the fact that small changes can bring dramatic functionality change in the subject matter.

Further, it is the ‘hindsight bias’ of the person skilled in the art results in evaluating past actions or occurrences where the evaluator is aware of how those actions or events turned out – which influences the judgement of the inventive step of the subject matter in question.

Now, how to overcome the inventive-step objection?

For an inventor or even for an attorney, learning the fact that the patent has been rejected based on the fact of invention being ‘non-inventive’ can be quite frustrating as ‘inventiveness’ is a pure subjective matter and many-a-times becomes tough to overcome. 

In India, inventive step objection generally comes in the stages of First Examination Report or Hearing or Opposition. Being subjective in nature, it can definitely get tricky, but then there are ways in which inventive step, if justified logically, can be overcome. Those can be:

• Technically justify the fact that the subject matter in question is not a mere workshop improvement – it involves technical advancement, and thus even the mosaicking of prior arts would not result in the technicality as involved in the present subject matter;
• Proving the fact that the prior arts cited to challenge the inventive step fail to teach or suggest the solution to the problem as has been done by the present subject matter;
• A mere hindsight bias of the controller – without any fall back on the prior arts can be challenged based on the fact that none of the disclosures teach or suggest the solution to the problem statement as identifies as well as solved by the current subject matter;
• Additionally, if the inventive step justification isn’t convincing enough, claim or specification amendments can be done to take care of the same.

Moreover, a well drafted patent application can even minimize the occurrence of obviousness rejection in the first place itself. It helps in saving resources and achieving the intended results. 

With the increasing rate of patent enforcement activities in India, it is quite frequently observed that the inventive step objections come up – but then with a properly drafted application, it can be minimized to a large extent.

Author: Priyanka Chakraborty

Copyright © 2023 Intellect Vidhya Solutions Law LLP. All rights reserved.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is obviousness the same as inventive step?

The Term Obviousness is most of the times synonymously used for Inventive step – some Patent offices use the term Inventive Step while others use non-Obviousness.

While in India, the Indian Patents Act 1970 Section 2(1)(ja) defines inventive step, US Patent Law mentions, a patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.

How is non-obviousness related to inventive step?

For a subject matter to be eligible for patenting, it should be sufficiently inventive and non-obvious. The purpose of the inventive step, or non-obviousness, requirement is to avoid granting patents for inventions which is a mere workshop improvement, and to achieve a balance between monopoly that patenting provides and encouraging invention.

What is the difference between inventive step and non-obviousness?  

The expression “inventive step” is predominantly used in Indian and Europe, while the expression “non-obviousness” is predominantly used in United States patent law. Thus, they both fundamentally indicates that an invention to be eligible for patenting, should be technically sound enough and not related to any known concepts of existing prior arts.

Contact our patent prosecution experts

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It is not just the legal lingo, but also, where from to start, which portion is talking about the current invention, which is the part which is mentioning about the already existing state of art details and so on, can be quite baffling. Another challenge lies in the fact that for a non-IP personnel, it is likely to get confused between patent and copyright or even patent and other IPs. Additionally, it is very likely to get intimidated with patent specification, which turns out to be a lengthy document in majority cases. 

Of course, the best way to deal with all of these, is to get help from an IP or Patent expert who can help you navigate through a patent specification with ease. But then, it is crucial to at least know the basics as to how to read a patent specification, as they say, ‘Never be afraid to try something new because life gets boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know’. Thus, let me take you through the sequence and portions of a patent specification, which would help you sail through and appreciate the patent specification. To understand the same effortlessly, a US granted patent (US9510681B2) is taken into consideration, which is dissected to depict the correct sequencing and technique to understand the patent specification.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Figures: 

Step 5:

Additional points to be cognizant of are:

• Not all segments of a patent specification are required to be digested for a non-IP personnel – the portions as mentioned in the steps as above would give a fair understanding about the patent specification;
• Reading and comprehending patent specification guides a person in the right direction to get his/her own patent;
• It is imperial to understand the rights and obligations of a patentee before or even after filing for a patent;
• Patent searching might get a bit tricky for a non-IP personnel – in such a scenario, it is advisable to consult an IP attorney;

Author: Priyanka Chakraborty

Copyright © 2023 Intellect Vidhya Solutions Law LLP. All rights reserved.

Contact our patent experts

The post How To Read A Patent Specification Being A Non-IP Personnel? appeared first on Intellect Vidhya Solutions.

Now the major challenge faced while applying for a Patent as a beginner is to figure out the right way to draft the patent application – which would not only ring out the best of the invention by navigating through the details, but also make it an easy go affair to get the patent granted. In this article we would take you through the crucial factors which should be borne into mind – before and while drafting the Patent – more specifically a Mechanical invention as a beginner. 

Checks to follow before initiating patent drafting

Patent is all about protecting an invention, involving research and technology which is novel, inventive and has got industrial applicability. Hence, the foremost important step before proceeding or processing the drafting of a patent application, it is the novelty and inventiveness check which needs to be done. This will ascertain the fact whether the subject-matter is likely to proceed and get a patent grant or not. Thus, in a gist, the checks required are:

• Check for patentability criteria (novelty, inventiveness, industrial applicability) – this step might some extra effort in the beginning, but then, it can prove to be a great time (and money) saver later;
•  If you are a foreign national filing a patent application in India, you need to grant Power of Attorney to an India resident to aid you in filing the patent;
• Check for relevant forms and fees requirement – which will help you to plan out the government charges required;
• Plan out whether the patent application would be filed only in India or even outside India – formal requirements change accordingly;

Segments of a patent specification and the details under each segment

Title: Title is nothing but a crisp heading of the invention which should broadly indicate the domain of the invention. Title of the invention should be not more that 15 words. 

Preamble: Preamble of the invention differs for Provisional and Complete specification and is an indicative of the fact as to whether the application is a description of invention or even the manner in which it is performed.

Preamble for Provisional Specification: ‘The following specification describes the invention’

Preamble for Complete Specification: ‘The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed’

Field of invention: This is indicative of the subject matter to which the invention relates and also the preferable area of usage of the application. 

Background of the invention: If you had ever noticed, every story has a background which sets the plot and thereafter the entire story is based out of that plot. The background of invention in case of a patent specification is no exception – this portion highlights the present available technicalities (state of art) in the domain of the present invention for which the patent has to be drafted and thereby highlights the drawbacks of the state of art – thus indicating the problem statement. This problem statement is more like setting the plot on which the rest of the patent draft would be based upon. 

In case of a Complete Specification drafting, the background is followed by Objective of the present invention (which can be a separate sub-category as well).

Summary of the invention: According to unwritten rules of the Patenting system, the summary of patent specification should be verbatim of the independent claims of the patent specification. In case it is a provisional specification, summary is more of a gist of the inventive concept of the invention – which in future can even be amended in the complete specification stage to make it a verbatim of the independent claims of the patent specification.

Brief description of drawings: This section mentions the drawings of the invention with a very brief (on-liner) indication of which drawing is indicative of what.

Detailed description of drawings: This is the section under which a complete picture of the invention is depicted. The main object of this segment is to enable a person skilled in the art to reduce the invention into practice without further experimentation. Again, according to unwritten rules of the Patenting system, this segment should consist verbatim of all the claims – suitably placed – along with the other details of the invention. This is the segment which should detail out on the enablement of the invention, the technical advantages, comparative details (if any), industrial applicability. Overall, this is the segment which should capture all the details of the invention to bring out the essence of the invention.

List of reference numerals: This is the segment which indicates what the numerals indicate in the drawings as mentioned (this segment is only required when drawing are provided along with the invention).

Claims: Claims are those which set the boundaries of the invention. Every claim consists of three parts – Preamble, Transitional phrase, and Body. Since the claims define the scope of the invention, it should be carefully drafted to cover all aspects of an invention and also at the same time bring out the novel aspect of invention in the independent claims and the inventive aspect in the dependent claims. Again, according to unwritten rules of the Patenting system, in India, two-part claims are most preferred ones wherein the claim should consist of non-novel parts followed by ‘characterised’ or ‘wherein’ and then novel component of the invention. It should be further kept in mind that the claims should not be too narrow – neither too broad. In case its too narrow, anything in future falling outside it and getting a patent is likely to happen. While on the other hand, if the claim is too broad, it would attract multiple prior arts and thus creating challenges to get the patent granted.

Abstract: Abstract is basically a concise summary of the matter contained in the specification. It should be indicating clearly the technical field to which the invention belongs, technical problem to which the invention relates and the solution to the problem through the invention and principal use or uses of the invention. Abstracts should always indicate the reference (the most appropriate) figure that best describes the invention (in cases whereby the patent application comprises of drawings).

Things to keep in mind when drafting a patent specification

Some of the frequently missed things which should be borne into mind while drafting a patent application:

• Go for a provisional specification drafting when the invention is yet to reach the end results, and complete specification if otherwise;
•  Start with claims drafting in case of complete specification – that would help chalk out the boundaries of the invention;
• Always use the correct preamble for the provisional/complete specification to avoid objections in future;
• Patent office always prefers the preamble of the independent claim to be same as the title of the patent application;
• Add multiple embodiments so as to cover as many variants of the invention as possible;
• Abstract should always have the reference of the most appropriate drawing that best explains the invention;
• The specification should indicate only one invention/a single inventive concept;
• Reference numerals should be indicated in the detailed description, claims and abstract.

FAQs

Is there a word or page limitation in Indian Patent Drafting?

In the Indian Patenting system, for an application which goes beyond a total page count of 30 pages, there is an additional fees requirement. 

Furter, for the abstract, it is preferable to keep the work count up-to 150 words and similarly, for the title of the invention, the word count should not go beyond 15 words. 

Is there any language or font style or page-layout or margin details to be followed while drafting?

According to Rule 9, The Patents Rules, 2003 (as amended), these are the following criteria:

Language: Hindi or English (unless otherwise directed or allowed by the Controller)

Font style: As such text font is not specifically mentioned, but the most commonly used fonts in a patent document are Times New Roman, Arial or Courier. Nevertheless, it is mentioned that the text should be in large and legible characters not less than 0.28 centimetre high with deep indelible ink with lines widely spaced not less than one and half spaced only upon one side of the paper.

Page layout and margin: The patent document should be on such paper which is flexible, strong, white, smooth, non-shiny, and durable of size A4 of approximately 29.7 centimetre by 21 centimetre with a margin of at least 4 centimetres on the top and left-hand part, and 3 centimetres on the bottom and right-hand part thereof. The pages should be numbered in consecutive Arabic numerals in the centre of the bottom of the sheet. Further, it should contain the numbering to every fifth line of each page of the description and each page of the claims at right half of the left margin. 

Are drawings mandatory?

Drawings aren’t a mandate, but preferred – specifically in mechanical or any relevant core domain patents. No descriptive matter shall appear on the drawings except in the flow diagrams. Drawings shall be on standard A4 size sheets with a clear margin of at least 4 cm on the top and left hand and 3 cm at the bottom and right hand of every sheet. Additionally, drawings shall be on a scale sufficiently large to show the inventions clearly and dimensions shall not be marked on the drawings.

Do you need to be a patent attorney to draft a patent?

A patent attorney isn’t a mandate when drafting or even filing a patent application and the same can be drafted and filed by the applicant of the patent as well. Only challenge lies in the fact that the applicant might not be aware of nitty gritty of the patent application, the legalities, forms, and fees involved. Hence, it is always advisable to seek the help of an expert – which is a patent attorney in the present case to process the patent application. 

Can I club multiple inventions in a single patent draft?

Unity of invention is one of the crucial factors of a patent application, thus, clubbing multiple inventions in a single patent draft isn’t allowed. A complete specification shall always relate to a single invention, or to a group of inventions linked so as to form a single inventive concept (Section 10(5), the Patents Act, 1970).

How can you file a patent application post drafting of the same and till grant?

Post drafting of a patent application, it is the relevant forms and fees requirement which comes into play to process the application for filing.

Author: Priyanka Chakraborty

Copyright © 2023 Intellect Vidhya Solutions Law LLP. All rights reserved.

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Understanding Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are legal safeguards afforded to individuals and entities for their original creations, innovations, and inventions. These rights give you complete control over the use, distribution, and commercialization of intellectual property like inventions, literary works, artistic creations, and brand trademarks. IPRs are a critical motivator, ensuring that creators are rewarded for their efforts and fostering an environment that promotes innovation, economic growth, and cultural preservation. They take various forms, such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets, and each caters to a different aspect of intellectual output.

Advantages of Intellectual Property Laws

• Fostering Innovation and Creativity: One of the primary benefits of intellectual property laws is that they encourage innovation and creativity. These laws provide a strong incentive for individuals and businesses to invest time, effort, and resources in developing new ideas, products, and technologies by granting creators and inventors exclusive rights to their creations. The promise of protection and potential profits motivates innovators to push the boundaries of knowledge and devise game-changing solutions to complex problems.
• Economic Growth and Job Creation: Intellectual property-intensive industries make a significant contribution to economic growth and job creation. These industries include technology, pharmaceuticals, entertainment, and other fields. Strong intellectual property protection encourages investment in research and development, resulting in the emergence of new markets and industries. As businesses strive to commercialise their innovations, they frequently require a skilled workforce, resulting in job opportunities and economic growth.
• Encouraging Technology Transfer: Intellectual property laws promote technology transfer by allowing creators and inventors to licence or sell their intellectual property rights to others. This mechanism facilitates the transfer of knowledge and expertise across regions and industries. Developing countries, for example, can benefit from advanced technologies developed in more economically advanced countries, aiding in the closing of the global technological divide.
• Quality and Standards Control: Intellectual property laws ensure product and service quality and standards. To maintain their competitive edge and protect their reputation, creators and inventors are motivated to maintain a certain level of excellence in their offerings. Customers benefit from this because it provides them with dependable and high-quality options in the marketplace.
• Cultural Preservation: Copyright and related intellectual property laws help to preserve cultural heritage. They encourage authors, artists, and creators to create works that reflect their cultural identity in order to ensure that diverse voices are heard and celebrated. These laws play an important role in preserving cultural diversity and preventing cultural appropriation by protecting traditional knowledge and folklore.

Disadvantages of Intellectual Property Laws

• Limited Access to Information and Knowledge: One of the most serious criticisms levelled at intellectual property laws is that they can limit access to valuable information and knowledge. While patents and copyrights encourage innovation, they can also stifle the free flow of information by granting creators and inventors exclusive rights. This has the potential to slow the pace of research and development in fields where expanding on existing knowledge is critical.
• Monopolies and Anti-Competitive Behaviour: When intellectual property rights are used aggressively, they can lead to monopolistic and anti-competitive behaviour. Some businesses may acquire large patent portfolios in order to prevent competitors from entering the market, stifling competition, and potentially leading to inflated prices for essential goods such as pharmaceuticals.
• Impediment to Research and Collaboration: Intellectual property laws can sometimes stymie scientific research and collaboration. Researchers may be hesitant to share their findings for fear of infringing on existing patents, potentially limiting the exchange of ideas, and slowing the advancement of knowledge.
• Barriers to Medicine and Essential Technologies: Concerns about access to life-saving medicines and essential technologies have been raised by intellectual property laws, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. Patents on critical drugs can result in exorbitant prices that are out of reach for many people, particularly in developing countries where access to healthcare is limited.
• Strain on Legal Systems: Enforcing intellectual property rights can put a strain on legal systems, resulting in costly and time-consuming litigation. The complexity of intellectual property disputes, particularly in the digital age, can clog court dockets and divert resources away from more pressing legal matters.

Conclusion

Intellectual property laws are a two-edged sword, providing benefits and drawbacks to society, innovation, and economic development. While they are critical in incentivizing innovation, protecting creativity, and driving economic growth, they also pose challenges in terms of knowledge access, monopolistic tendencies, and potential barriers to essential technologies. To strike the right balance between rewarding innovators and ensuring public welfare, careful consideration, ongoing evaluation, and possibly changes to the existing intellectual property framework are required. As technology advances and global challenges evolve, finding this balance becomes increasingly important in shaping a prosperous and inclusive future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main advantage of Intellectual property rights?

The principal benefit of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) lies in providing creators, inventors, and innovators with a legal framework to safeguard their intellectual assets. IPRs grant exclusive rights, ensuring that the fruits of their labour are protected from unauthorized use, thereby fostering a culture of innovation and creativity.

What is the importance of intellectual property rights? 

Intellectual Property Rights are of paramount importance as they fuel innovation by incentivizing inventors and creators. They drive economic growth by attracting investment and promoting entrepreneurship. 

What are the advantages of intellectual property rights in cyber security?

They offer a shield for digital creations against unauthorized access and distribution, bolstering protection against cyber threats. IPRs also stimulate innovation within the cybersecurity domain, as researchers and businesses are motivated to develop cutting-edge solutions while knowing their proprietary technologies are safeguarded. Furthermore, IPRs contribute to securing the expanding landscape of interconnected devices and technologies on the Internet of Things (IoT).

What are the advantages and disadvantages of trademark?

Advantages: 

• Brand Identity and Recognition 
• Market Differentiation
• Legal Protection Against Infringement

Disadvantages:

• Cost and effort
• Limited protection and renewal every 10 years
• Overreach and litigation

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Steps of Conducting Patent Search In PatentScope

Let us understand the steps in the form of the following example.

Suppose an individual has developed a method for printing solar cells onto aluminum foil at a low temperature using a nanoparticle ink.

Step 1 Identifying central concepts related to the innovation

From the description, central concepts can be: “solar cell” (product), “aluminum foil”, “nanoparticle ink” (used for production).

Step 2 Determining keywords for the search

Finding synonyms and related keywords and phrases will be next step for the concepts identified in the first step. With current scenario following synonym or alternate terminologies can be used i.e. solar cell photovoltaic cell (synonym) nanoparticle suspension (related term) aluminum foil aluminium foil (alternative spelling), metal foil (related term) nanoparticle ink nanoparticle solution (related term),

Step 3 Determine IPC symbols for the search

The pertinent IPC symbols can be identified using some of the words and synonyms found in the previous steps by using the IPC Official Publication (see: www.wipo.int/ipcpub). With respect to current example, searching for the term “solar cell” using the predefined settings yields the IPC group H01L 31/00 as a relevant IPC symbol.

Step 4 Performing first search

It is advisable to keep the first search relatively broad, using (i) the “OR” Boolean operator along with keywords and IPC symbols; and (ii) a wildcard operator to include plural forms of words and phrases. The “International Class” (“IC”) can be used in PATENTSCOPE for restricting the search for IPC symbols. The first search focuses on finding a broad range of patent applications related to the product in question i.e. IC/H01L31/00 OR “solar cell” OR “photovoltaic cell”. This search yields more than 250000 results. Examining the results reveal that they include applications covering not only methods for producing solar cells but also for arranging and using solar cells.

Step 5 Use of Boolean Operators

Considering the results from the primary search, the search should be conducted using more specific search terms along with the “AND” Boolean operator. In order to capture results containing wordings such as “nanoparticle solution” as well as “solution containing nanoparticles,” “NEAR” operator can also be used in order to define the distance between 2 words. For example: (IC/H01L31/00 OR “solar cell” OR “photovoltaic cell”) AND ((aluminum NEAR foil) OR (aluminium NEAR foil) OR (metal NEAR foil)) AND ((nanoparticle NEAR suspension) OR (nanoparticle* NEAR solution) OR (nanoparticle* NEAR ink))

Different Factor’s For Conducting Patent Search In Patentscope

Following are the different factors which can be used to find relevant patents:

• Keywords
• Patent classification
• Dates (e.g., priority date, application date, publication date, grant date)
• Patent reference/identification numbers (patent number, publication number, application number)
• Names of applicants/assignees or inventors

Features of Patentscope

Patenscope provides access to millions of patents/patent applications, including, Regional and national patent databases out of several signatory nations and International Patent Applications submitted under the PCT. Following are the methods to conduct patent search in Patentscope:

1. Simple search

The standard WIPO patent search interface is “Simple Search interface”. Individuals/inventors having minimal training or new to patent searches can use it. Following are few possible applications of the Simple Search Interface:

1. A subject covered using definitive terms, or a relatively precise notion to restrict the number of results
2. A particular figure: a mention of a patent document in the news, during a court case, etc.
3. A person, an innovator, a candidate, etc.
4. A business, whether out of personal interest, to merge with or acquire another business or monitor a rival’s efforts.
5. A particular period

Following are the 8 preconfigured search areas accessible in the simple search interface, each with different search criteria:

1. Front Page: Only the document’s front page will be searched using the search keywords entered on this page.
2. Any field: Using the search criteria provided in this form, any field in the document is searched.
3. Full text: Enter your search term here if you’re interested in a full-text search.
4. English text: Records with English text will be looked for using the criteria listed below.
5. ID/Number: You can include your publication or filing number here.
6. International Patent Code: In this field, enter any IPC.
7. Names: List the applicant’s, creator’s, company’s, etc., names.
8. Dates: Enter any dates you choose
9. Advanced search – Individuals with appropriate experience and expertise in patent searches can use advanced search interface. Using an infinite number of words, this interface may be used to generate sophisticated search queries.

The interface provides a plurality of field codes and operators, such as Boolean operators, proximity operators, and range operators, which can be used to combine search keywords. An individual/inventor can alter the output of these operators to get specific outcomes. Further, it also enables individual/inventor to search for variations in phrases based on a similar stem or root by using wildcard operators. Patentscope recommends synonyms, which is the new function in the advanced search, “Expand the query,” assists users in broadening the search.

2. Filed Combination Interface

The field combination interface is important search interface for finding and analysing information about patents in the WIPO Patent search database. Individuals/inventors can organize the search precisely by using specific search terms/parameters in each of the search boxes on this interface. The interface provides a list of pre-set search fields that may be combined based on the users’ requirements. The following example steps illustrate how the Field Combination interface is used:

1. Selecting the field/fields of interest using the drop-down menu’s arrow;
2. Using the OR/AND boxes to add or include fields;
3. The individual/inventors can add or remove fields by clicking on them;
4. Selecting the language the individual/inventors want to search in 11 language options available;
5. Selecting the collection of interest using the Add button.

3. Chemical Structure Search

The chemical structure search makes it feasible for individuals looking for chemical compounds to recognize molecules that comprise the desired fragment. Only whole structures could be searched till recent years. A new feature i.e. substructure search has been included, which enables individuals/inventors to enter a sketched sub-structure and search for all entries in the Patentscope. This search helps in creation of breakthrough technology and medications.

Following are the 3 options available in the Chemical structure search:

1. Convert Structure: With this function, individuals/inventors can select the type of search input they want to utilize, for example- a brand name or a chemical constituent.
2. Structure editor: This feature allows the individuals/inventors to alter a particular search.
3. Submitting a Structure: This feature allows individuals/inventors to submit relevant documents which provide chemical descriptions.

Cross-Lingual Expansion Search

Cross-Lingual Information Retrieval (CLIR) tool enables individuals/inventors to broaden their search. Before translating content into 13 different languages, the search tool analyses synonyms for the user’s search terms. An individual/inventor must enter search terms in one of those languages into the search box to access the system’s translation and recommendation functions. This enables the individuals/inventors to get the patents published in each of the 13 languages.

Conclusion

WIPO patent search tool i.e. Patentscope provides that patent information which is accessible to the public to analyse novelty of the invention. The search conducted in Patentscope is utilized to analyse all forms of prior arts in existence and other available materials. The individuals or organizations benefit from this patent searches because they can estimate the worth of possible investments in patents. Hence the Patenscope platform provided by WIPO facilitate individuals through simple search engine and easy steps to ensure whether their ideas are novel. The regular updates in the Patenscope database makes the patent search process more convenient and feasible internationally.

The post Patentscope – All you need to know about using a WIPO Patent Search appeared first on Intellect Vidhya Solutions.

(Guide verified against the live portal in August 2026. The interface has not changed materially since 2019, so screenshots should match what you see.)

What InPASS covers (and what it doesn't)

• Covers: every Indian patent application published under Section 11A (applications stay confidential for 18 months from filing/priority, so very recent filings won't appear), and every granted Indian patent. Records include bibliographic data, abstracts, and the complete specification text.
• Doesn't cover: unpublished applications (the 18-month window), foreign patents (use WIPO PATENTSCOPE or Google Patents — comparison below), and it is not a real-time docket — status data lags the file by days.

What InPASS can see at each stage of an application’s life.

The four tools inside InPASS

Step-by-step: your first search

The Patent Search form at iprsearch.ipindia.gov.in/publicsearch.

Step 1 — Open iprsearch.ipindia.gov.in/publicsearch. No login needed. (IMG-1)

Step 2 — Pick the publication type. Two checkboxes: Published and Granted. Quirk #1: they are mutually exclusive — ticking one silently unticks the other. You cannot search both in one pass; run your search twice, once per type. (Search "Published" first: it includes applications that may block yours even if never granted.)

Step 3 — Choose a search field. The second dropdown offers 16 fields: Title, Abstract, Complete Specification, Application/Publication/Patent Number, Applicant Name/Country/Address, Inventor Name/Country/Address, Filing Office, IPC classification, and PCT Application/Publication Number. Start with Title, then broaden to Abstract, then Complete Specification as you loosen the net.

Step 4 — Type your query using InPASS syntax (this is where most DIY searches fail):

Step 5 — Stack conditions with Add. Each row = one field + one query, joined with AND/OR/NOT. A serious novelty screen is typically: Title/Abstract keyword row + IPC class row + date range.

Step 6 — CAPTCHA and search. Quirk #2: a fresh CAPTCHA is mandatory for every single search — there is no way around it, and sessions expire quickly. Compose your query fully before solving it.

Step 7 — Read the results. You get a count ("Total Document(s): 163"), paginated rows of Application Number · Title · Application Date · Status, and a per-row Application Status shortcut. (Example: a Title search for drone on Published applications returned 163 Indian filings, from crop-monitoring spectrometers to drone-swarm fire suppression.)*

Step 8 — Open a record. Click the application number. Quirk #3: records open in a new window — if nothing happens, your popup blocker ate it. Allow popups for ipindia.gov.in. The record shows: full bibliographic table (publication number/date, filing date, priority data, field of invention, IPC codes), inventor and applicant tables with addresses, the Abstract, the Complete Specification text inline, and a View Application Status button.

Searching by application number

If you already hold a number (your filing receipt, a competitor's published application, a cited document):

1. For the full record: Patent Search tab → field = Application Number → paste the number (format: 202641088324) → CAPTCHA → the record with abstract and specification.
2. For prosecution status only: Application Status tab → number + CAPTCHA → current stage (awaiting examination, FER issued, replied, granted, refused…). This is the tab to watch after you file. (Detailed walkthrough incl. what every stage means and its deadlines: our application-status guide.)
3. For a granted patent's life status: Patent E-register tab → patent number + CAPTCHA → whether it's in force, and the renewal-fee history. Essential for freedom-to-operate questions — though a lapsed patent isn't automatically a green light. (Full guide incl. restoration traps: our E-register guide.)

Seven quirks to know before you start

1. Published/Granted checkboxes are mutually exclusive — always run both passes.
2. New CAPTCHA for every search; no session survives idling.
3. Record details open in popups — whitelist the site.
4. Dates use MM/dd/yyyy (US order), not Indian convention.
5. No export/download of result lists — copy what you need manually.
6. Spelling matters: Indian applicant names transliterate inconsistently (Lakshmi/Laxmi). Use wildcards and OR rows for name variants.
7. The engine indexes exactly what was filed — typos in old filings are searchable only with wildcards. Searching only Titles misses inventions titled obscurely; broaden to Abstract/Specification before concluding "nothing exists".

InPASS vs Google Patents vs WIPO PATENTSCOPE

A competent India search uses all three: InPASS for the authoritative Indian record, Google Patents to read comfortably, PATENTSCOPE for families. (Our detailed PATENTSCOPE guide: our PATENTSCOPE guide.)

A free search is not a patentability opinion

InPASS tells you what exists; it cannot tell you whether your invention is patentable over what exists. Professional patentability searches differ in three ways: (1) claim-level analysis, not title-matching; (2) coverage of global prior art and non-patent literature; (3) a reasoned opinion on novelty and inventive step you can act on — including how to draft around near-hits. That's why a DIY InPASS pass is the right first step, and a professional patent search is the right step before spending on drafting and filing.

FAQ

Is InPASS free? Yes — free, public, no registration. You only spend effort on CAPTCHAs.

How do I check if my idea is already patented in India? Search Published + Granted separately: Title first, then Abstract, then Complete Specification, using wildcards and synonyms; add an IPC-class row for thoroughness. Absence in InPASS alone isn't proof of novelty — foreign prior art counts against Indian applications too.

Can I search an application's status by number? Yes — Application Status tab with the application number. For granted patents, use Patent E-register with the patent number to see if it's in force.

Why can't I find a recently filed application? Applications are published ~18 months after filing/priority (unless early publication was requested). Until then they're confidential and invisible to every search tool.

What do INA/publication types mean? Publication codes indicate the publication stage (e.g., early/ordinary publication under 11A). The record's Status column shows Published vs Granted.

Does a granted patent stay in force forever? No — 20 years from filing, and only if renewal fees are paid from year 3 onward. E-register shows the payment record; lapsed patents can sometimes be restored, so read carefully before assuming freedom to operate.

Found something close to your invention — or found nothing and want to be sure? Get a professional patentability search with a reasoned opinion → Talk to our patent team.

This guide is for general information and education only and is not legal advice.

The post How to Use InPASS: Patent Search in India, Step by Step appeared first on Intellect Vidhya Solutions.

Is it Possible to Patent Ideas?

Patents could be issued for inventions that demonstrate an inventive step, do not fall under the legal category of inventions that are not patentable, and may be applied to a commercial environment. According to the decision in Hickton’s Patent Syndicate vs. Patents & Machine Improvements, if an idea or concept is new and practical, it is protected by a patent.

The Patents Act of 1970 makes no explicit reference of whether or not ideas can be patented. Since both invention and ideas originate from and are developed from concepts, they are quite similar. Therefore, an idea that is useful, distinct, novel, not evident to qualified experts, and has industrial value may be patented under the Patents Act of 1970.

If you have an idea for an invention, you should consider conducting a patent search to make sure someone else has not already invented your idea.

What is a patent search?

A patent search includes searching for previous art in the form of published patents, blog posts, journal papers, and other openly available information. You can decide whether your idea is novel, practical, and innovative and, thus, whether it qualifies for patentability by conducting a patent search. Your idea is not original and has already been invented if you discover prior art during your search that describes it. Additionally, you won’t be able to get a patent for your innovation. But if there are no prior arts found that describes your idea, you will be able to get a Patent for the innovation.

How to conduct patent search to make sure your idea is already not Patented?

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) specifies search parameters, including keywords, patent categorization, and applicant or inventor names, to help users to locate relevant patents.

Keyword search:

Performing a search using keywords can target existing patents that are similar to your invention idea. When performing a keyword search, WIPO recommends using Boolean operators, truncation, nesting, and phrases.

WIPO advises paying close attention to synonyms and numerous languages when doing a patent search. It’s vital to look for synonyms because there are numerous names that can be used to describe technology.

Patent classification search:

Classification systems organize patent documents into different technology groups. In comparison to a straightforward keyword search, searching by patent categorization can offer a more focused and limited search. The International Patent Classification (IPC) system is an illustration of a classification scheme. This method organizes technology into about 70 000 groupings and encompasses almost all technological domains.

Applicant or inventor name search:

You can also search for patents belonging to specific individuals or companies by searching their names.

The search can be performed using below resources:

1. Google Search;
2. PATENTSCOPE – managed by WIPO;
3. Google Patents;
4. Indian Patent website;
5. United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO);
6. Canadian Patents Database – managed by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office;
7. Espacenet – managed by the European Patent Office (EPO).

Benefits of Patentability Searches:

• Verifying the invention’s availability and calculating the potential range of protection.
• The outcome of a patent search has a significant impact on the extent of a patent’s protection; if prior art exists that is similar to the current invention, the scope of protection would be limited.
• The outcomes of the patentability search may serve as a starting point for calculating the applicant’s investment costs.

The post How to Find if My Idea is Already Patented? appeared first on Intellect Vidhya Solutions.