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Topic 3: Legal
Requirements for
Patentability and typical
Parts of a Patent
Application Chiang Mai,
October 2, 2017
Atif W. Bhatti
Associate Legal Officer, Patent Law Section, WIPO
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Overview
National Law
Exceptions to Patentability
Novelty
Inventive Step
Industrial Applicability
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National Law
Thai Patent Act (1979)
Sec. 5 : „new, involve an inventive step and capable
of industrial application “
Sec. 6, 7 and 8: further definitions for novelty,
inventive step and industrial applicability
Sec. 9: exclusions to patentability
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Exceptions to Patentability
Depends on national or regional law!
Discovery, Scientific theories, mathematical methods
Aesthetic creations
Inventions contrary to morality or public order
Therapeutic and diagnostic methods
Plant or animal varieties
Plants or animals (other than microorganisms)
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Exceptions to Patentability
Software!
However, software implemented inventions might be
patentable
i.e. invention involving an apparatus or process which
makes use of a software, e.g. a specific computer
chip with a software stored on it
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Novelty
An invention is new/novel if
it was not know to the public before the date of filing of
the patent application or the priority date claimed.
Prior art should not be patented again!
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Novelty
Absolute Novelty
No publication of the invention anywhere in the world
by means of written or oral description, by use,
or in any other way
Also know as strict novelty requirement
Each feature of the invention in general in one single
reference
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Novelty
Some national laws have a grace period
e.g. USA, Japan, etc.
But not European countries!
Making available to the public within certain period
before the date of filing not novelty destroying
(e.g. USA, Sri Lanka
= 12 months but only limited to acts by the applicant
or his predecessor no protection against
publication by third party! (NB: US law more
specific)
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Novelty
Examples:
Presentation at a conference
Publication in any kind of magazine
Making use of the invention in a public place
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Novelty
The Donald Duck case:
Mr Karl Kroyer: invention of a method to raise a sunken
ship by filling it with buoyant bodies fed trough a tube
NL patent application not granted but GB and DE
1964: He lifted a sunken boat in Kuwait‘s harbor by filling
the boat with 27 million plastic balls
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Novelty
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Novelty
1949: Donald Duck comic published by Carl Barks
Shows Donald and nephews raising a ship by filling it
with ping pong balls shoved through a tube
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Novelty
Prior art must contain all features of the patented
invention
Example:
Invention = wooden chair with seat and four legs with
two rails (a rocking chair)
Reference X: wooden chair with seat and four legs
Reference Y: chair with four legs with two rails
Is Invention novel?
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Novelty
Invention is novel
Why?
References X and Y do only disclose features of the
invention together!
But invention may be obvious!
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Novelty
Date of filing important for prior art
Any publication after the date of filing not novelty
destroying
Claiming of priority date possible
= date of filing of an earlier application in another
country/region
Priority = 12 months
No requirement to file subsequent applications
within 12 months but advantageous in regard to
patentability!
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Novelty
Priority example
Filing date: December 1, 2016
12 months priority ends on: December 1, 2017
For each filing within 12 months date for determining
prior art = December 1, 2016
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File local
application
File
applications
abroad
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Inventive Step
Invention should not be obvious to a person skilled in the
art
Person skilled in the art = Technician having all
knowledge of the technical field of the invention
But no imagination or creativity!
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Inventive Step
Obvious?
Any invention which does not go beyond the normal
progress of technology so that a person skilled in the art
would derive with the invention by looking at the prior art
Invention Step = different interpretations in national laws!
Consultation of the national case law necessary!
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Inventive Step
Example:
Invention = wooden chair with seat and four legs with
two rails (a rocking chair)
Reference X: wooden chair with seat and four legs
Reference Y: chair with four legs with two rails
Invention most likely regarded as obvious
Combination of references X + Y logical as both are
chairs
But: maybe different if surprising effect
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Industrial Applicability
Invention needs to be able to be used or made in any
kind of industry
No industrial application if only able to be used in
private or personal sphere!
E.g. method of contraception
Invention does not need to be better than existing
products or processes
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Main parts of a patent application
Title
Introduction
Background Art
Short description of the invention
Short description of the figures
Detailed description
Claims
Drawings
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Title
Very general
Broad
Neutral
Generic
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Introduction
Setting out the general technical field
Very broad
Very short
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Background Art
Description of the prior art already known in this field of
technology
Sets the scene and explains the problems with known
devices, methods or systems
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Description of the invention
Brief description of the invention
Often corresponds to the wording of the main claim
Describes the advantages of the invention
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Description of the figures
Brief descriptions of what the drawings show, if any are
included within the patent application
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Detailed description
Details of the invention
Description of preferred embodiments
Typically references to drawings
Preferred way of putting invention into practice
Content very important for prosecution and opposition
proceedings
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Claims
Heart of the patent
Defines the scope of patent protection
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Drawings
Illustrate one or more preferred embodiments of the
invention
Do not limit the invention as defined in the claims
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Thank you very much!
Atif W. Bhatti
Associate Legal Officer
Patent Law Division
WIPO, Geneva
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