A patent is a grant of exclusive rights for an invention to make, use and sell the invention for 20 years. Patents are granted for new, non-obvious and industrial applicable product or process inventions.
Patentability criteria in Pakistan include absolute novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability.
Patent law in Pakistan is governed under two following legislations:
- Patents Ordinance 2000 and,
- Patents Rules 2003
Requirements:
- Full name, nationality, and complete business address of the applicant(s) and inventor(s) (their names, nationality and addresses).
- Copy of specifications and claims in the English language along with drawings.
- Application form signed by the applicant(s) and endorsement on the reverse by the inventor(s) in presence of two witnesses; if the inventor(s) himself/themselves is/are not the applicant(s) in Pakistan. In substitute, an Assignment document can also be provided if the inventor’s signature on the said form is not possible.
- Power of Authority signed by the applicant(s).
- In the case of the priority application, a certified copy of the priority document. If the document is in a language other than English, a notarized English translation of the same is also required to be filed at the Pakistan Patent Office.
We provide the following Patents Services:
- Patent searches
- Application filing
- Legal actions
- Hearings
- Application acceptance and sealing
- Filing oppositions
- Annuities
- Post Grant related matter
- An appeal in superior courts
- Patent validity check
FAQ:
Q1: Can a patent search be conducted?
Yes.
Q2: Can a patent application be filed without its complete documents?
Yes, without forms, Power of Attorney and certified copies of priority documents.
Q3: Can convention priority be claimed? Convention Countries?
Yes.
Q4: Can a registration be obtained for pharmaceutical products?
Yes.
Q5: What is the term of protection of a patent and from which date is it calculated?
Twenty years starting from the priority/first filing date.
Q6: Is a secret form of filing a model/design permitted?
Yes.
Q7: Is there a novelty requirement? Is it local or worldwide?
Yes, worldwide.
Q8: Is the patent protection available for software alone, or must the software be coupled with computer hardware to permit patent application?
Yes, alone.
Q9: Can the specifications or claim be amended?
Yes.
Q10: Could annuity payments be made before the granting of the patent?
Yes.
Q11: In what language should specifications and claims of the patent be filed?
English only.
Q12: Is working of the invention required to keep protection in force?
Yes.
Q13: What are the conditions that might lead to a compulsory license?
The compulsory license is possible if a patent is neither effectively used in Pakistan nor offered for the license.
Q14: Must assignments be recorded within a certain period?
No.
Q15: Does the Patent Law provide for licenses or registered users?
Yes.
Q16: Does the Patent Office publish the patent applications?
Yes.