Patentable Inventions are:
An invention is new if it is not anticipated by prior art, prior art being constituted by everything disclosed to the public, anywhere and at any time whatsoever, by means of a written or oral disclosure, by use, or in any other way, before the date of the filing of the patent application or the priority date validly claimed in respect thereof.
Patents may not be validly obtained in respect of inventions the publication or working of which would be contrary to public order or morality, provided that the working of an invention shall not be considered as contrary to public order or morality merely because such working is prohibited by law or regulation.
If two or more persons have jointly made an invention, the right to a patent shall belong to them or their successors in title jointly and equally; a person who has merely assisted in the execution of an invention without having contributed any inventive activity shall not, however, be deemed to be an inventor or co-inventor.
YES, within 12 months from the first filing date.
A written declaration indicating the date and number of the earlier application, the country in which he or his predecessor in title made such application and the name of the applicant, and shall, within a period of three months from the date of the later application, furnish a copy of the earlier application, certified as correct by the Patent Office of the country where it was made.
YES, subject to the discretion of the Patent Examiner.
Due annually on the anniversary of the filing date and payable prior to grant.
YES. A period of grace of six months shall be granted for the payment of the annual fees upon payment of a surcharge.
The lapse of a patent for non-payment of fees shall be published in the Gazette by the Patent Office as soon as possible.
A patent shall expire at the end of the 20th year from the date of the filing of the application, subject to the payment of the annual fees.
NO, an application for a patent shall relate to one invention only.
Assignments shall have no effect against third parties until such registration in the Patent Office on payment of a prescribed fee.
YES. The applicant for or owner of a patent may, by contract, grant to some other person or undertaking a license to exploit his invention.
A license contract must be in writing and shall require the signatures of the contracting parties.
YES. Every license contract must be registered in the Patent Office, on payment of a fee. The license shall have no effect against third parties until such registration.