Jul 19, 2022 | Contracts
Section 2(f) of The Indian Contract Act, 1872 says that “Promises which form the consideration or part of the consideration for each other, are called Reciprocal Promises”.[1] In essence, this implies that promises exchanged in a contract are referred to as reciprocal promises. When multiple promises must be fulfilled concurrently, the promisor is not required to fulfil them unless the promisee is prepared and willing to fulfil his end of the bargain.[2] This principle has been established under Section 51.
For example, If Party A and Party B sign a contract wherein A will deliver particular goods to B and the payment shall be made in cash upon delivery, then there is no obligation on A to deliver the aforementioned goods unless they see a willingness on the side of B to make the payment in cash.
In the majority of business contracts, two or more parties normally agree to fulfil certain responsibilities toward one another. Such responsibilities may take the form of reciprocal promises, which are assurances that provide some or all of the consideration for one another. In other words, the performance of the responsibility of a party is conditional upon the other party completing their own. The notable clauses with respect to reciprocal promises are Sections 51 to 54 of the Indian Contract Act of 1872. While Sections 51 and 52 describe the various circumstances in which a reciprocal promise may be applicable, Sections 53 and 54 deal with instances in which one party breaches its responsibility.
Background
Contracts are the foundations for many agreements. Contracts often include one party promising to do something in exchange for the other party performing another act. However, parties to contracts sometimes only agree to take particular actions or make promises to take certain actions. Promises are not tangible, in contrast to an act. As a result, several questions may arise because of its nature. One is considered to make a proposal when he or she indicates their will to do (or not do) something. A proposal becomes a promise when it is accepted by the other party (to whom it is offered). In this case, the one who makes the proposal is the “promisor” and the individual to whom this proposal is made to is the “promisee”. The act of the promise is known as “consideration of the promise” when the promisee acts in accordance with the promisor’s wishes and either fulfils the promise or refuses to fulfil it. An agreement is created by these promises. Reciprocal promises are the kind of promises that make up an agreement.
Consideration and Promise
Under Section 2(d) of the Act, it states that consideration occurs when the promisor makes a promise to do or not do anything; this action is referred to as consideration of the promise. Reciprocal Promises is the term used when such promises constitute an agreement. Reciprocal promises are a portion of the consideration or make up the consideration for the contract, as stated in section 2(f) of The Indian Contract Act. A promise for a promise that creates an agreement is called a reciprocal promise.
A question may arise as to whether every consideration can be considered as a reciprocal promise. Consideration is typically referred to as a reciprocal promise since it is a promise made by the promisee to the promisor as part of an agreement. Similar to reciprocal promises, consideration is a promise for a promise and a reciprocal promise is a promise for a promise, however specifics will depend on the circumstances and nature of the transaction. Consideration may include cost or some value in exchange for the promise as a consideration. Each transaction may include a different amount of consideration. As an illustration, consider money or a commitment as consideration to do or not do anything.
To answer another question as to whether every reciprocal promise is a consideration, reciprocal promises are not regarded as consideration. Reciprocal promises are a list of commitments made by both parties to a contract. Reciprocal promises create agreements. However, depending on the transactions occurring, there could be exceptions to the statement.
Types of Reciprocal Promises
- Mutual and Independent
Although not protected by the Act, this idea has developed via jurisprudence. It requires the contracting parties to carry out certain duties independently of one another, and their execution is not reliant on the other party carrying out its obligations under the agreement. However, the contract requires the fulfilment of these separate and overlapping obligations.
For example, let’s say that “A,” a government organization, and “B,” a private contractor, enter into a contract for “B” to construct a bridge. If such a contract requires “A” to disclose information on, for instance, power projects to “B,” but such information has no bearing on building the bridge, then “B” will not be released from fulfilling its commitment to build the bridge simply because “A” did not provide the pertinent information. Although they are mutual and independent, the two pledges made by the parties to one another are binding. In fact, even if “B” falters on the bridge construction, “A” will still be required to divulge information about the power projects. However, even if the aforementioned two commitments are mutual and independent, the contract’s conditions would be maintained if it specified that they must be fulfilled in a specific sequence.
In the landmark case of Mrs. Saradamani Kandappan vs. Mrs. S. Rajalakshmi and Ors[3], The Supreme Court affirmed the provisions of the agreement and acknowledged the mutual and independent nature of the reciprocal promises. Rajalakshmi and Saradamani had struck a deal for the purchase of a plot of property, which required a number of monthly payments. Prior to making the final payment, Saradamani requested that Rajalakshmi present the title paperwork. Saradamani failed to make the last payment as a result of Rajalakshmi’s refusal. Rajalakshmi cancelled the contract as a result of the last instalment not being paid on time. Following litigation in many venues, the Supreme Court ruled that the two promises—paying the last instalment and displaying the title documents—were mutually incompatible. Saradamani had brought a lawsuit for a particular performance. It also ruled that Saradamani’s reluctance to pay was improper since the contract did not stipulate that the buyer must first examine the title papers before making payment. However, the Supreme Court determined that the contract was dissolved because of the passing of time and ordered Rajalakshmi to refund the money she got from Saradamani.
- Concurrent
This is a typical instance of a reciprocal commitment when the parties are required to carry out their duties overtly or implicitly concurrently. If the other party is not “ready” and “willing” to carry out its responsibility, the party willing to execute its promise will be excused from doing so.
For example, in the previously provided example, if “A” was required to engage vendors through a tender process to source some raw materials for “B,” including those sourced by “B,” then “B” might discharge itself from completing its commitment if “A” was not “ready” and “willing” to issue bids on time. In this example, simultaneous fulfilment of “A’s” and “B’s” reciprocal promises is essential to the contract’s successful completion. The Supreme Court ruled in J.P. Builders v. A. Ramadas Rao[4] that “readiness” relates to financial capability and “willingness” refers to the behaviour of the person that is seeking performance, and that typically the former is supported by the latter.
- Conditional
This is the most typical kind of reciprocal promise, and it nearly always becomes a point of contention anytime there is a disagreement over a government contract that has been broken. According to this, the performance of one party is dependent upon the other party fulfilling a duty. The first party would not be able to keep its promise if the second party did not carry out its duties in line with the contract. Whether or not a promise is deemed conditional depends on the specifics of each situation.
For example, resuming the earlier example, if the contract between “A” and “B” also provided that “A” would construct a road leading to the proposed bridge in order to allow “B” to transport large machinery and equipment to the site, then “A’s” breach of this obligation would have an effect on “B’s” ability to fulfil its portion of the agreement. The transaction would still be seen as a reciprocal commitment owing to its fundamental nature and purpose, i.e., without the road, construction on the bridge cannot begin. Even if the contract did not clearly state that building the road is a precondition to beginning work on the bridge.
In M/s Shanti Builders vs. CIBA Industrial Workers’ Co-Operative Housing Society Ltd.[5] , a disagreement erupted over certain construction work that Shanti Builders was required to do. According to CIBA, Shanti Builders failed to finish the building work in line with the contract, which caused significant losses for them. On the other side, Shanti Builders claimed that it had not received a plot of land as the contractually required payment for the building work that had already been finished and that it would be unable to proceed with the next stage of the project unless such payment was made. The court backed Shanti Builders’ arguments after hearing from the parties and adopted the stance that if the fulfilment of a contract calls for a specific sequence (even if it is not expressly specified), then such sequence must always be followed. It also ruled that in cases where reciprocal pledges are reliant on one another, one party cannot demand the fulfilment of a promise if the other has not fulfilled its own.
Consequences to default
When a contract contains reciprocal promises, which means that one of them cannot be performed or that its performance cannot be claimed until the other has been fulfilled, and the promisor of the last-mentioned promise breaks that promise, that promisor cannot claim the fulfilment of the reciprocal promise and must instead compensate the other party to the contract for any losses that such other party may incur as a result of the contract’s non-performance.
For Example, A hires B’s ship to transport cargo from Bombay to Mauritius that B will furnish, with B getting a certain freight in exchange for transporting the cargo. A does not supply the ship with any cargo. A cannot demand that B fulfil his commitment, and must instead seek recompense from B for the harm that B suffers as a result of the contract’s non-performance.
Conclusion
Commercial contracts sometimes include reciprocal promises, particularly those that include the government, such as those for energy, infrastructure, etc. Courts frequently wrestle with contracts that contain reciprocal promises and have invalidated arbitral decisions made under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act due to an incorrect interpretation of reciprocity, underscoring the fundamental significance of this concept. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehend the subtleties of the interpretation, ramifications, and degree of responsibility placed on each side by such reciprocal promises.
Author: Ankitha Amby, Faculty of Law, PES University
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May 7, 2022 | Indian Patents Act 1970, IPR & Business, Patent, Startups
Cross border trade refers to trading of goods and services between two commercial entities or consumers and commercial entities across state borders. This gives consumers a huge range of commodities to choose from and provides commercial entities with a plethora of opportunities and new markets to exploit. Cross border trading and outsourcing to meet necessary requirements has been an important part of civilizations since the inception of the barter system. The motivations of cross border trade and expansion of markets lies at the very foundation of international relations. While cross border trade is not new by any means, the role that it plays today in markets across the globe is unprecedented. This is a boon of modern technology and the internet marketplace.
It is estimated that by 2022, cross border shopping will take up about one-fifth of the e-commerce space along with sales recording a whopping 627 billion dollars. The Indian market, ranked ninth in cross-border growth, is showing growth projections of upto 4% of the total retail trade by 2025.
While the scope for profit and promotion has increased manifold with the popularization of cross border trading, additionally has spiked the risk of infringement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), duplication and counterfeit of the products.
The protection of intellectual property on a global scale can be a complex issue, a tight rope to walk while balancing national autonomy at the same time as to drive further into global existing markets. The risk of IPR infringement exists at multiple areas in the transit of goods. The many working aspects of the supply chains further complicate the issue.
Protection for IPR exists at various levels, internationally which simply implies that the said protection of property extends across numerous regions and nationally. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) founded in 1967 is the foremost intergovernmental organization working towards ensuring protection of intellectual property rights across borders. International conventions such as the Paris Convention and the Hague Agreement for Industrial property and designs, and the Madrid Agreement regarding deceptive indication and false goods date back to the 19th century, India is party to most of these agreements except The Hague Agreement. However, the protection these treaties offer extends only to the territories of member countries; this magnifies the risks that exist in the countries that are not signatories to the treaty. Though this protection includes goods being exported, imported and also those in transit i.e only passing through these member states, it is not adequate.
While international conventions grant rights, aid in easing the application procedure across member states and in some cases even outline procedural aspects they do not provide for mechanisms to enforce these rights. Territorial or national enforcements of these rights leave space for multiple interpretations, some of which can be unjust and ill motivated. This also happens due to IP rights registered and enforced in bad faith, as is the case with Chinese patents, copyrights and designs.
In recent times ecommerce giants such as Amazon and popular clothing sites like Shein have faced slander for copying designs from small time designers, a piece of clothing designed in interior North America might very well gain immense popularity in cities far away without the designers ever getting any deserved (or even legal) recognition. This speaks to the potential and scope of IPR infringements and the impact it carries.
As of today six BIPOC have been awarded copyrights, for choreographies they created that went viral during the first set of lockdowns imposed world-wide and are highly used and recognised amongst young adults. These copyrights now ensure credit is given to them in case these are used in games or movies. Though considering the multiple languages and regions that produce cinema and e-games the scope of infringement is wide and questions of justness and ease of the process of redressal in such cases arise. This copyright in a global sense would be granted under the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty of 1996, the issue of justice in case of violation remains open ended so far.
The latin maxim Ubi jus ibi remedium est used in various areas of law, including contract law, supports the idea that the existence of right also implies the need for a remedy, rights that are not justiciable are no rights at all. Like most practices of international law, the conventions and agreements under the WIPO and IPR protection purview is not by nature applied in its whole essence, the application and adoption lie with the member states as sovereignty of nations is priority.
But sovereignty cannot take precedence in the face of blatant violation of rights of individuals. It is also important to note that WIPO does have an Arbitration and Mediation Center, traditional methods of recourse and redress are still lacking.
Simply put, there is a need for an intergovernmental organisation, a neutral adjudicator. This could be in the form of an appellate dispute resolution body on an international level, exercising the powers of review and recall, or in terms of separate councils for different continents consisting of members elected by various states exercising the powers of regulation.
While many approaches can be thought of, to solve this problem, the root of all such approaches must be with the intention of maximum utility and enforcement of all intellectual property rights across the world.
Author: Vaishnavi Srinivas of RV Institute of Legal Studies
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Apr 20, 2022 | IPR & Business, Patent
Intellectual property rights (IPR) are elemental in modern-day business strategy. Technology transfer transactions provide income to several companies operating in countries all across the globe. These countries immensely benefit from the taxation of IP related transactions leading to the growth of their economies. Thus, to promote more of such ventures, willing countries pledge to follow international treaties such as the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which contain several provisions to govern trade-related matters between countries in respect of IPR. Certain tax exemptions and deductions are also provided to native companies in other member states to provide an incentive to enhance their business income. In the Indian context, it has been observed that an efficient IP taxation regime and royalty policy would persuade creators to produce more original and artistic work and expand the number of technology or know-how transfers into the country.
The following article provides a basic understanding of how income derived from IPR transactions are taxed under the Income Tax regime in India.
Taxation Policy in India w.r.t. Intellectual Property Rights
The taxation structure in India provides that income from intellectual property rights (IPR) are segregated according to the nature of the transaction. If an individual authors a book, creates music or is the sole inventor of a medicinal cure, then in those situations, the Income Tax Act of 1956 (the ‘Act’) provides for certain tax deductions which will promote tax planning. Once the nature of the transaction is determined, it is easy to identify whether the amount paid is taxable or would be allowed as a deduction. The categories under which IP can be taxed are –
- Deductions – In the pre-existing stage of an IP, the cost which is incurred on analysis, manufacturing, i.e., capital spent on research and development is treated as an expense and is to be deducted from the gross income received for the calculation of income tax.
- Income – Income from an IPR either by assignment or licensing is treated as Capital gains or income received from royalties under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
- Goods and Sales Tax – Tax on the sale of IP, transfer of IP, licensing of IP and assignment of IP are covered under the GST Act.
What is intellectual property according to tax law?
As per the definition of ‘capital asset’ in Section 2(14)[1], a capital asset has an all-embracing connotation except if it expressly excludes a certain item. It includes ‘property of any kind,’ which undoubtedly incorporates intellectual property. The Act does not define intellectual property as such but the difference between tangible and intangible assets is examined in Section 2(11)[2]. Intangible assets, as per the definition, include ‘know-how, patents, copyrights, trademarks, licenses, franchises or any other business or commercial rights of a similar nature.
Royalty
Section 9(1)(vi)[3] of the Income Tax Act elaborates the definition of royalty. Royalties are taxable as income or as a business expense. It is to be noted that regardless of the conditions mentioned in Section 9(1)(vi)[4], if the IP is located in India, then the consideration for its use or disposal will arise in India and will be taxed according to Section 5(2)[5] of the Income Tax Act. Income by way of royalty is taxable under the Income Tax Act for a resident except in respect of:
- any right, property or information used or services utilized outside India or
- To make or earn any income from any source outside India.
Royalty income is taxable for a non-resident in respect of –
- any right, property or information used or services utilized in India or
- To make or earn any income from any source in India.
If such income is payable due to an agreement made before the 1st day of April 1976, and the agreement is approved by the Central Government, such income cannot be taxed.
In CIT Vs. Koyo Seiko Co. Ltd [1999 233 ITR 421 AP] it was held that royalty excludes any consideration which would be chargeable under the head of ‘Capital Gains’ and is assessable to capital gains tax at the rates applicable. Thus, royalty is any consideration, including lump-sum amounts but excluding those which would be the income of the recipient chargeable under the head capital gains, for:
- The transfer of all or any rights (including the granting of a licence) in respect of an invention, patent, secret formula or process, model, design, trademark or similar property;
- The imparting of any information concerning the working of or the use of an invention, patent, secret formula or process, model, design, trademark or similar property;
- The use of any invention, patent, secret formula or process, model, design, trademark or similar property;
- The imparting of any information or the use or right to use concerning technical industrial, commercial or scientific knowledge, experience or skill; (but not including the amount referred to in Section 44BB[6].)
- The transfer of all or any rights (including the granting of licence) in respect of any copyright, scientific, artistic or literary work including films or videotapes for use in connection with television or tapes for use in connection with radio broadcasting, but consideration for the sale, distribution or exhibition of cinematographer films.
- The render in of any other service about the activities mentioned above.
Expenditure and Deductions
While determining tax liability, the aim and object of the expenditure should be kept in mind to decided whether it is a capital expenditure or revenue expenditure. A revenue expense is deductable from the chargeable income of a business, while the expenditure incurred on capital is not. The Supreme Court in the case of Assam Bengal Cement Companies Ltd. v. CIT [1955 SCR (1) 876], observed that if the expenditure is made for acquiring or bringing into existence an asset or advantage for the benefit of the business it is attributable to capital expenditure. On the other hand, if it is made for running the business or using it to produce profits, it is a revenue expenditure.
Section 32 (1)(ii) – Depreciation of an intellectual property asset as an expenditure [7].
Depreciation of an asset is considered to be a business expense and the section accounts for such depreciation of IP to be an expenditure for computation of Income Tax.
Section 35A – Expenditure on the acquisition of patents and copyrights [8]
- When the consideration is paid in a lump sum, the depreciation over the acquired patent and copyrights shall be claimed over a period;
- When the consideration is paid periodically, the depreciation can be claimed as an expenditure fully incurred for business.
Any expense undergone after 28th February 1966 but before 1st April 1998 on the acquisition of patent rights or copyright for a business committed actions will be allowed for each of the previous years on an amount equal to the appropriate fraction of the amount spread over fourteen years.
Section 35AB – An assessee who has paid any lump sum consideration to acquire any know-how for the use of his business, the expenditure for the same shall be deductable in six equal instalments for six years in the following manner [9]–
- 1/6th of the amount paid shall be deducted while calculating the profits and gains of the business for the previous year;
- the balance amount shall be deducted in equal portions for each immediately succeeding the previous five years.
Section 80 GGA – deduction in respect of certain donations for scientific research or rural development [10].
The research work for the development of intellectual property such as a patent comes under the category of scientific research. Under present laws, expensed deductions and additional weighted deductions are permitted to everyone for research and developmental expenditure. For the tax years 2017-2018 to 2019-2020, the weighted deduction is limited to 150% after which it will be reduced to 100% of the expenditure.
Section 80 O – no deduction in respect of royalties from certain foreign enterprises [11]
- 40% for the assessment year beginning on the 1st April 2001,
- 30% for the assessment year beginning on the 1st April 2002,
- 20% for the assessment year beginning on the 1st April 2003,
- 10% for the assessment year beginning on the 1st April 2004,
- No deduction from 1st April 2005 onwards.
Section 80 QQA – Specific provision for copyright products [12]
A deduction of 25% shall be allowed from any income obtained by an author in the exercise of his profession on account of any lump sum consideration for the assignment or grant of right in the copyright of any of his works, except for the following –
- Dictionary
- Thesaurus
- Encyclopedia,
- Any book that has been added as a textbook in the curriculum by any university for the degree of graduate or postgraduate course of the university, or
- Book which is written in any language specified in the 8th schedule of the constitution or any other language as the Central Government by notification in the official gazette specifies for the promotional need of the language.
Section 80QQB – deductions made in respect of royalty income of authors of certain books other than text-books [13]
Section 88 RRB – Specific provision for patented goods and services [14]
In some cases, the total income earned on a patent can be divided into royalty and additional income other than royalty. The income received as royalty is only eligible for tax deductions. When income is received as a royalty, the whole income or Rs. 3 lakhs (the lesser amount) shall be deducted. If a compulsory license is being granted for a patent, the terms and conditions of the license agreement shall decide the status of the income to allow deduction under this section which shall not exceed the amount of royalty.
Basic qualification criteria for an inventor under this section-
The individual must be an Indian resident.
- Original patent holders are only eligible to tax benefits.
- The patent under this section should be registered under the Patent Act of 1970, either on or after April 1, 2003.
Section 115BBF – concessional tax rate on the exploitation of patents [15]
10% concessional rate of taxation is applicable on royalty income from the exploitation of patents granted under the Patents Act, 1970. The following criteria must be satisfied –
- The patentee should be an eligible Indian taxpayer,
- The total income of the patentee must include income by way of royalty in respect of the patent developed and registered in India,
At least 75% of the expenditure is incurred in India for the invention, and
No other expenditure is allowed under the tax provisions if the concessional tax rate under this section is availed.
The benefit of Section 115BBF can be used in any year but the patentee is required to continue to avail of the benefit for the next 5 years. If the option is not exercised in any of the next 5 years, the benefit under the section for the next 5 years following such year in which option is not exercised, shall cease the exist.
Startups and SME’s
A Startup is an industry that has been in existence for not more than seven years and has a turnover not exceeding twenty-five crores whereas an SME is an enterprise with an investment of up to one crore in Plant and Machinery. A startup primarily focuses on the innovation and development of products and processes. Startup-India is an initiative of the government which intends to catalyze the startup culture in India to build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in the country and to provide IPR facilitation, better tax benefits and easier compliance procedures. The special tax exemptions to promote such startups are –
Section 80 IAC: Income tax exemption for recognized startups [16]
After getting recognition as a startup, this section provides that for any three consecutive years out of a block of 7 years (10 years for startups from the Bio-Technology Sector) from the date of its incorporation, tax exemptions can be availed. The eligibility criteria for the same is –
- The entity should be a recognized startup,
- Only private limited companies or limited liability partnerships are eligible,
- The startup should have been incorporated after the 1st of April 2016.
Section 56: Angel Tax [17]
After getting recognition, a startup may apply for Angel Tax Exemption. Eligibility Criteria for this section is –
- The entity should be a DPIIT recognized startup
- The aggregate amount of paid-up share capital and share premium of the startup after the proposed issue of shares, if any, does not exceed INR 25 Crore.
Other Benefits for Startups regarding IPR:
-
- Patent applications and facilitation helpline will be speedily available.
- The entire fees of the facilitators for any number of patents, trademarks or designs that a startup may file shall be taken up by the Central government and the cost of the statutory fees shall be paid by the startup.
Startups shall be provided with an 80% rebate in the filing of patents.
Government Scheme for MSMEs– Support for International Patent Protection in E&IT (SIP-EIT) Scheme
This scheme of the Government of India provides financial support to MSMEs and technology startups for international patent filing. The reimbursement limit provided in it has been set to a maximum of INR 15 lakhs per invention or 50% of the total charges incurred in filing and processing a patent application, (the lesser of the two). This scheme can be availed at any stage of international patent filing by the applicant. The reimbursement, however, will only apply to expenditures incurred from the date of acceptance of a complete application by DeiTY which has to be approved by a competent authority.
Conclusion
Today, several entities derive most of their income from their IP assets and thus enforce the importance of IP and the need for a more enabling taxing regimen. In India, the current economy is witnessing rapid growth in micro and small sector enterprises with great abilities to compete at a global level. Most of these enterprises do not protect their intellectual property due to several reasons such as lack of awareness, lack of funds, exhaustive procedures etc. and are not well equipped to take their businesses to the next level. Awareness of tax planning and a supplementing taxing regimen is the way forward to make a win-win situation for both the Government and the competing parties.
By: Aryashree Kunhambu, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Law College, Mangalore.
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Apr 15, 2022 | Indian Patents Act 1970, IPR & Business, Patent, PCT, Startups
For various reasons, every inventor wants to file for a patent internationally after filing it in his/her home country. Sometimes it’s about the status that is associated with having a patent filed in the US or Europe, but having an international patent may also enhance the valuation of the technology which ultimately may impress investors and fetch better value to the inventor. Oftentimes, inventors drop the idea of filing for patent internationally because it is expensive, complicated, and long procedure. Laws across the countries are also not unified in terms of procedures, fee and timelines leading to more and more confusions at every stage,
It is firstly of crucial importance to understand the term “International Patent”. In reality, there is nothing called international patent or global patent. Despite there being ways to file for a patent internationally, there is no single authority to grant international patents with validity across the globe. Patents are required to be filed in and granted by each country where the inventor wishes to seek protection.
Few things are required to be focused on, when filing a patent outside India. For a resident of India, Section 39 [Residents not to apply for patents outside India without prior permission] of Indian Patents Act 1970 states that the patent must be filed in India first and can be filed in any foreign country within a period of 12 months. Once this 12-month period expires, the inventor loses the chance of filing outside India.
Two ways to file patent application internationally
There are 2 ways to file a patent in foreign countries. These are:
A. Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Route
An inventor may file a single patent cooperation treaty (PCT) application or international application within 12 months from the date of filing a patent application in India. PCT is an international patent law treaty that provides a unified system for filing patent applications in each of its contracting states. It is a convenient platform to assist inventors that are seeking patent protection internationally (in the contracting states of PCT) for their inventions. It also helps patent offices with their patent granting decisions by providing comprehensive search reports for the patent application along with opinion on patentability. PCT publishes the patent application filed with it and maintains an online database called Patentscope which facilitates patent searches as well as gives public access to a wealth of technical information in the form of patents.
PCT examines the application, issues examination report and enables inventors to file their application within 30/31 months from the date of priority in any of the member states of PCT. After this, the patent is processed and granted by the national offices of the countries where patent protection is sought, based on the procedures and requirements of the respective offices. PCT enables patent filing in its member states & gives extra time to the inventor to decide about the countries they want to file their application in.
B. Convention Route
The countries which are members of the Paris Convention are called convention countries and an application filed in a convention country is called a convention application. Unlike PCT, convention application is required to be filed in the convention country within 12 months from the priority date.
Reasons to file international application
Filing international application without clarity on the reason to file is not a good idea. It does not help inventors in long run and may actually lead to a very stressful situation if the prosecution is left midway, further making the overall process financially cumbersome. Following parameters should be considered when deciding about the countries to file patent application in:
- Your future business plans
Patents must be filed in the countries where the inventor wishes to expand the business in the future. It must be remembered that there is a specific time period within which inventors must file the patent application in specific countries. Once this period has lapsed, it is not possible to file an application at a later stage. Therefore, if it is desired by the inventor to expand the business in countries like the US or Japan 5 years later, it would make sense to file patents in these countries within the required time frame.
- Potential of technology in given jurisdiction
Sometimes, it makes sense for an inventor to file for patent in some countries even if the inventor does not have business there. Countries like the US have a mature system of buying, selling and enforcing patents. If technology has good potential in a specific country, a patent should be filed in that country. Further, licensing and selling options may also be explored to facilitate easier transition of the patented technology to the market.
- Your budget
Filing and prosecution of a patent is a long process and strictly regulated by several timelines. A patent may be lost if the inventor does not respond to the office in time or fails to pay the necessary fees. Further, there are standard expenses for each country and renewal fees to be paid post grant of the patent. This leaves a very small window for postponing expenses and timelines, making the overall process of getting a foreign patent extremely time consuming, complex and expensive. The tentative costs of filing, prosecution and maintenance must be assessed in advance and only then should a decision about foreign filing be taken.
Keeping in mind budget, type of invention and area of business, the decision to file patent internationally shall be taken.
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Mar 6, 2022 | Indian Patents Act 1970, Key Terms of Patents Act, Patent
The term “Convention application” refers to any patent application which is filed in the convention countries.
According to Section 133 [Convention countries] of Indian Patents Act 1970, convention country is any country, which is a signatory or party or a group of countries, union of countries or intergovernmental organizations which are signatories or parties to an international, regional or bi-lateral treaty, convention or arrangement to which India is also a signatory or party and which affords to the applicants for patents in India or to citizens of India similar privileges as are granted to their own citizens or citizens to their member countries in respect of the grant of patents and protection of patent rights shall be a convention country or convention countries for the purposes of this Act. Convention country accords the same rights in respect of the grant of patents and protection of patent rights to citizens of India, as it accords to its own nationals.
For example:
- India and US, both are members of Paris convention and hence both are convention countries.
- Applicant from US can file patent application in India within 12 months from the date, he filed application in US and vice versa
- The members of convention countries shall grant similar privileges to citizen of India as granted to its own citizens in respect of the grant of patents and the protection of patent rights.
Section 135 of Indian Patents Act defines the term Convention Application. According to Section 135, the applicant usually files patent application for the first time in his/her national office and claims priority. This application is called as “Basic Application”. Within 12 months of filing basic application, he/she can file application in one or more convention countries. Where applications for protection have been made in one or more convention countries in respect of two or more inventions which are cognate [similar] or of which one is a modification of another, a single convention application may [subject to the provisions contained in section 10, Contents of specifications] be made in respect of those inventions at any time within 12 months from the date of the earliest of the said applications for protection.
For example:
- Robert files a patent application: 15th July 2005
- Basic Application and 15th July 2005 is Priority Date
- Robert has 12 months’ time from 15th July 2005 to file application in any of the convention countries.
- Applications filed in other convention countries are called Convention Applications
- Priority date of all application in such a case shall be 15th July 2005.
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