Patents In Nepal Patent Filing In Nepal
The law governing Patent Filing in Nepal is the Nepal Patents Act, 1965. As per the Nepal Patent Act, 1965, a patent means ‘any useful invention invented through a new method or process of the construction operation or publicity of any material or collection of materials or through any principle or formula.’
Only Ordinary & Convention Patent Applications can be filed in Nepal. As Nepal is not a member of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) so PCT National Phase Patent Applications cannot be filed in Nepal.
What are the Patent Rights granted to a Patentee in Nepal?
• A person desirous of obtaining right over any patent shall register such patent in his/her name under this Act.
• A patent bestows the patentee with an exclusive right to exclude any third party from copying the invention unless a written permission is sought from the patentee.
• If any third party attempts to or actually copies the invention, the Department shall levy a fine on the accused and confiscate all the materials related to such offence.
| Relevant Office | Department of Industries |
| Law in Force | Patent, Design and Trade Marks Act, 1965 |
| Paris Convention | Yes |
| PCT | NO |
| Prosecution Process | Filing Publication Opposition Examination Registration Renewal |
| Registration Term | 7 years from the date of registration |
| Renewal Term | 7 years from the date of previous registration |
INVENTIONS NOT PATENTABLE IN NEPAL
A patent sought to be registered may not be patentable in the following circumstances:
• If it has already been registered in the name of any other person
• In case the applicant him/herself is not the inventor nor has acquired rights over it from the original inventor, or
• If the patent sought to be registered is found to cause adverse effect in health, conduct or morale or people in general or in the national interest.
For more information on Patents in Nepal please write to us at: info@ssrana.com
Types Of Patent Applications In Nepal
The following types of Patent applications can be filed in Nepal
a. Ordinary Application:The very first patent application filed in a Patent Office without claiming priority from any patent application or without any reference to any other application under process in the office is called an Ordinary application.
- Convention Application:
Nepal became a party to Paris Convention with effect from June 22, 2001. Therefore, an applicant desirous of filing patent application in Nepal claiming priority from one or more than one convention countries based on same or substantially the same invention, he may do so within 12 months from the date of earliest priority.
As Nepal is not a member of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) so PCT National Phase Patent Application cannot be filed in Nepal.
Patent Application Filing Requirements in Nepal What are the details required for filing a patent application in Nepal?The details required for filing a patent application in Nepal are as under:
• Name, address and profession of inventor;
• In case the invention is not invented by the applicant himself, the conditions acquiring; such right from inventor by the applicant;
• Method of operation or utilization of the invention;
• Principle or formula, if the patent is based on any principle or formula;
• Drawings and sketch of invention (if necessary);
• Prescribed application fee as mentioned in schedule.
What are the documents required for filing a Patent Application in Nepal?1) A Power of Attorney signed by the applicant sealed and attested by two witnesses.
2) An application form.
3) Notarized copy of specification and claims including the nature of invention.
4) Home Country Filing Receipt/Priority Claims Details in English Notarized by Notary Public in the case of priority claim.
5) The certified copy of home country registration certificate patent along authenticated translation in the English language by a Notary public thereof.
PATENT PROSECUTION IN NEPAL
What is the procedure for grant of patent in Nepal?
PATENT APPLICATION EXAMINATION IN NEPAL:
On receipt of application submitted by the applicant, the Department shall, on the advice of experts if so considered necessary, conduct all investigation to determine whether the patent application meets the statutory requirements or not. The Examination is conducted in two ways:
a) Formality Examination is made to determine whether the application fulfills the necessary procedural and formal requirements. The Department shall invite the applicant to correct where necessary documents are missing.
b) Substantive Examination is carried out by the examiners to assess the patentability of the invention to ascertain whether:
1) The claimed invention is patentable subject matter or not.
2) The claimed invention is novel, an invention is new if it is not anticipated by the prior art. 3) It can be applied for practical purposes for its utility or possesses industrial applicability.
4) The application must disclose the invention in a manner sufficiently clear for the invention to be carried out by a person skilled in the art.
5) It possess inventive step if there is a clearly identifiable difference between state of the art and the claimed invention.
In case the Department concludes that the claimed invention should not be registered in the circumstances it does not satisfy the statutory requirements, it shall give a notice to the applicant to the effect that the patent application cannot be registered.
GRANT OF PATENT IN NEPAL:
On receipt of applications filed for registration of a patent, the Department shall, after completing necessary investigations, issue a registration certificate to the applicant on payment of registration fee.
PUBLICATION OF GRANTED/ REGISTERED PATENT IN NEPAL :
• The patent applications filed are published by the Department except those which are to be kept undisclosed for national interest.
• Any person desirous of obtaining a copy of the statement or drawing of a published application in patent journal, may seek the same after payment of fee as prescribed.
PATENT TERM AND RENEWAL IN NEPAL:
When the application for Patent is found in order of grant, the patent is granted by the Patent Office in Nepal. The term of patent in Nepal is for seven years from the date of registration. The patentee shall renew the patent within 35 days from date of expiry by paying a fine of One thousand rupees within six months after the expiry of the time-limit.
For more information on Patent Prosecution, Patent Examination and Patent Renewal in Nepal please write to us at: info@ssrana.comTo know more about Patents in Nepal
PATENT OPPOSITION IN NEPAL
Understanding Patent Opposition in Nepal
How to file patent opposition in Nepal?
• A pre-grant opposition may be filed by any person with the Department within 45 days from the date on which the published application is seen or a copy of such patent document is taken.
• Upon receipt of the complaint the Department takes necessary steps through investigation ascertaining whether the oppositions is valid or not.
For more information on Patent Opposition in Nepal please write to us at: info@ssrana.comTo know more about Patents in Nepal
REVOCATION OF PATENT IN NEPAL
How can a patent be revoked or cancelled in Nepal?
The Department may cancel the registration of any patent which had been registered if the patent falls under the categories of un-patentable inventions. The Department shall, before cancelling the registration of any patent, provide reasonable opportunity to the patentee to show the cause, if any, why the registration of this patent should not be cancelled.
For more information on Revocation of Patent in Nepal please write to us at: info@ssrana.comTo know more about Patents in Nepal
For more information on Patent Application Filing in Nepal please write to us at: info@ssrana.com
Read More