Patent Filing in Sri Lanka
The following types of Patent applications can be filed in Sri Lanka: Ordinary Patent applications, Convention Patent Applications, PCT National Phase Patent Application Entry in Sri Lanka or a Divisional Patent Application.
As per Sri Lanka Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003, patents in Sri Lanka are granted to inventions. An “invention means an idea of an inventor which permits in practice the solution to a specific problem in the field of technology.” An invention may relate to a product or process. In accordance with the provisions of Patent Act, an inventor can apply for patents.
Law in Force | Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003 |
Paris Convention | Yes |
PCT | Yes |
Prosecution Process | Filing, Publication, Examination, Grant / Registration |
Registration Term | 20 years from the date of registration |
Criteria For Patentability In Sri Lanka
Inventions patentable in Sri LankaAn invention is patentable if it is new, involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable.
INVENTIONS NOT PATENTABLE IN SRI LANKAInventions not patentanble in Sri Lanka?
As per Section 3 of the Act, the following inventions are not patentable—
(a) discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods;
(b) plants, animals and other microorganism other than transgenic microorganism and an essentially biological process for the production of plants and animals other than non-biological and microbiological processes
(c) schemes, rules, or methods for doing business, performing purely mental acts or playing games;
(d) methods for the treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy, and diagnostic methods practiced on the human or animal body;
(e) an invention related to nuclear material or atomic energy in an atomic weapon;
(f) any invention which is against public order, morality including the protection of human, animal or plant life or health or serious prejudice to the environment.
For more information on Patents in Sri Lanka please write to us at: info@ssrana.com
Patent Application Filing in Sri Lanka
The following types of Patent applications can be filed in Sri Lanka:
a) Ordinary application:An ordinary patent application is a type of patent application filed directly at the Sri Lanka Patent Office without claiming any priority from any existing patent application made in a convention country or without any reference to any other patent application under process.
b) Convention Patent ApplicationA convention patent application is a type of patent application filed claiming a priority date based on the same or substantially similar application filed in one or more of the convention countries. A convention patent application has to be with the Sri Lanka Patent Office within 12 months of filing the similar application in the convention country.
c) PCT National Phase Patent Application Entry in Sri Lanka Deadline for entering a Filing a PCT or National Phase Patent Application Entry in Sri Lanka?PCT is an international filing system in which the applicant gets an international filing date in all the designated countries, conferring the late entry (up to 31 months) to the national offices without affecting the priority date.
The PCT does not provide for grant of Patent, the responsibility of granting or rejecting the patents lies exclusively with the regional patent offices basis their local Patent laws and rules.
Sri Lanka is a contracting party to PCT and deadline for filing a PCT or National Phase Patent application entry into Sri Lanka is within tt30 months from the date of the earliest priority.
d) Divisional Application Divisional Patent Application Filing in Sri LankaWhen a patent application is “divided” from an existing application, it is termed as a Divisional Patent. The date of filing of a divisional patent application will be considered same as that of the main patent application, from which it has been divided.
For more information on Patent Application in Sri Lanka please write to us at:info@ssrana.com
Patent Filing Requirements in Sri Lanka
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR PATENT APPLICATION FILING IN SRI LANKA
In accordance with the provisions of Patent Act, an inventor can apply for patents. Where two or more persons have jointly made an invention, the right to a patent shall belong to them jointly. In case of a foreign applicant, he or she shall be represented by an agent resident in Sri Lanka whose name and address shall be given in the application, accompanied by a Power of Attorney granted to such agent by the applicant.
Every application for a patent shall be made for one invention only or a group of inventions, which are linked to each other by a single inventive concept. Along with application for grant of patent and specification, the applicant is required to submit the following:
Declaration by the inventor;
Statement justifying the applicant’s right to the patent;
The authorization of an agent.
Documents required for filing a patent application in Sri LankaAn application for the grant of a patent shall be made to the Director-General in the prescribed form and shall contain—
(i) a request for the grant of the patent;
(ii) a description of the patent;
(iii) one or more claims;
(iv) a drawing(s), wherever required;
(v) an abstract;
(vi) date and number of any application for a patent filed by the applicant abroad, if any, relating to the same, or essentially the same invention as that claimed in the present application;
(vii) a declaration that the applicant or his predecessor in title has not obtained a patent abroad before the application was filed relating to the same or essentially the same invention as that claimed in the application.
For more information on filing a Patent application in Sri Lanka please write to us at info@ssrana.com
PATENT EXAMINATION IN SRI LANKA
After filing a patent application, the application is examined for patentability. On receipt of application submitted by the applicant, the Director-General shall examine the application by conducting all investigations to determine whether the patent application meets the statutory requirements or not. The Examination is conducted as follows:
a) Formality Examination is made to determine whether the application fulfills the necessary procedural and formal requirements. The Director-General shall invite the applicant to correct where necessary documents are missing.
b) Whether the essential elements of the invention claimed in the application have not been unlawfully derived from a patent already granted in Sri Lanka.
If the examination report is adverse to the grant of Patent, the same is communicated to the applicant. As per the provisions of the Patent Act, the applicant has to comply with the requirements imposed on him within a period of three months from the date on which objections are forwarded to him, or else the application shall be rejected.
GRANT OF PATENT IN SRI LANKAWhen the application for Patent is found in order of grant, the patent is granted as expeditiously as possible and a certificate is issued to the applicant. The term of patent is twenty years from the date of application.
PUBLICATION OF GRANTED/ REGISTERED PATENT IN SRI LANKAThe Director-General shall publish a notice pertaining to the grant of the patent in the Gazette. A patent remains in force for a period of twenty years by paying annual renewal or patent annuity yearly.
When is the patent annuity due in Sri Lanka?Annuity or renewal fees are required to maintain the granted patent in force. Where a patentee, at the expiration of the second year from the date of grant of the patent, intends to keep the same in force he shall, twelve months prior to the date of expiration of the second and each succeeding year during the term of the patent, pay the prescribed annual fee.
For more information on Patent Examination, Patent Prosecution, Patent Grant and Patent Annuity / Patent Renewals in Sri Lanka please write to us at: info@ssrana.com
PATENT ANNUITY PAYMENTS IN SRI LANKA
When is the patent annuity due in Sri Lanka?
Annuity or renewal fees are required to maintain the granted patent in force. Where a patentee, at the expiration of the second year from the date of grant of the patent, intends to keep the same in force he shall, twelve months prior to the date of expiration of the second and each succeeding year during the term of the patent, pay the prescribed annual fee.
For more information on Patent Annuity Payments in Sri Lanka please write to us at: info@ssrana.comRead More
Patent Examination In Sri Lanka