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Blog Entry Indian Patent Office updates Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions, yet again
by Anubha Sinha published Jul 02, 2017 last modified Jul 05, 2017 07:42 AM — filed under: , , ,
By discarding a test brought into force last year, the updated Guidelines take no concrete position to help clarify the ambiguity around patentability of software inventions in India.
Located in Access to Knowledge / Blogs
IP Meetup #02: Prabir Purkayastha on the CRI Guidelines and software patenting in India
by Anubha Sinha published Mar 20, 2016 last modified Mar 29, 2016 05:06 PM — filed under: , , , ,
Located in Access to Knowledge / Events
Blog Entry The new Guidelines for Computer Related Inventions are a big win for FOSS in India!
by Anubha Sinha published Feb 23, 2016 last modified Feb 24, 2016 06:30 AM — filed under: , , ,
India is one of the few countries which permits patenting of software – a monopolization that has only benefited established corporations and largely throttled innovation in the software industry, worldwide. CIS has consistently advocated against patentablity of software and in a major victory last week, software patenting in India died a little more. This happened via the newly issued Guidelines for the Examination of Computer Related Inventions, which introduces a new test to restrict software patenting – in essence the same legal test that CIS had been proposing since 2010. This post highlights the new test and other noteworthy changes in the Guidelines.
Located in Access to Knowledge / Blogs
Blog Entry Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions in abeyance
by Anubha Sinha published Dec 21, 2015 last modified Dec 23, 2015 10:06 AM — filed under: , , ,
The CRI Guidelines were heavily criticised for their failure to address the ambiguities created by Section 3(k) and for expanding the scope of software patent eligibile subject-matter, inter alia. Following several representations and submissions by interested stakeholders, the Controller General has moved the Guidelines into abeyance, until discussions with stakeholders are complete and contentious issues are resolved, and is a welcome step.
Located in Access to Knowledge / Blogs
Blog Entry Comments on the Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions (CRIs)
by Anubha Sinha published Sep 21, 2015 last modified Oct 27, 2015 02:46 PM — filed under: , , , ,
Recently, the Indian Patents Office released the Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions (“2015 Guidelines/ Guidelines”) in an attempt to clarify examination of software related patents in India. This post is a pure analysis of the 2015 Guidelines. The new Guidelines, essentially, narrow the exclusions of secttion 3(k), thereby enlarging the scope of software related applications eligible for a patent grant. More alarmingly, there is low emphasis on the application of the subject matter test, increased ambiguity on the nature of subject matter and an exclusionary list of examples appended to the document. In the following post, CIS highlights these concerns and presents solutions, and also proposes a definition of "computer programme per se". Read on to understand how the new guidelines will potentially lead to an increase in software patenting activity by expanding the scope of patentable subject matter – in negation of the legislative intent of section 3(k) of the Indian Patents Act, 1970.
Located in Access to Knowledge / Blogs
Blog Entry Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions: Mapping the Stakeholders' Response
by Nehaa Chaudhari published Oct 29, 2014 last modified Jan 05, 2015 05:01 PM — filed under: , , ,
The procedure and tests surrounding software patenting in India have remained ambiguous since the Parliament introduced the term “per se” through the Patent (Amendment) Act, 2002. In 2013, the Indian Patent Office released Draft Guidelines for the Examination of Computer Related Inventions, in an effort to clarify some of the ambiguity. Through this post, CIS intern, Shashank Singh, analyses the various responses by the stakeholders to these Guidelines and highlights the various issues put forth in the responses.
Located in Access to Knowledge / Blogs
Blog Entry Analysing Alice Corporation Pty Ltd v CLS Bank International Et Al
by Anubha Sinha published Aug 01, 2014 — filed under: ,
The US Supreme Court delivered a unanimous decision in Alice Corporation Pty Ltd v CLS Bank International Et Al last month. The decision concerning software related inventions (with respect to carving an exception to “abstract ideas” patent eligibility category) was the most awaited and the final patent ruling of the US’ Supreme Court’s term. This post presents an analysis of the decision and a timeline of landmark US judicial decisions on software patents.
Located in Access to Knowledge
Blog Entry CIS Submission on Draft Patent Manual 2010
by Pranesh Prakash published Dec 05, 2010 last modified May 29, 2014 06:47 AM — filed under: ,
The patent office has released a revised version of the Draft Manual of Patent Practice and Procedure. Section 8.03.06.10 of the Manual deals with patenting of computer programmes. CIS is happy to note the many improvements in this draft of the Manual from the previous version. CIS made its submission along with a few suggestions that it thinks would make the document even better.
Located in Access to Knowledge / Blogs
Blog Entry Seminar on Software Patent and the Commons
by Prasad Krishna published Sep 02, 2010 last modified Oct 23, 2011 02:22 PM — filed under: , ,
A pre-grant opposition has been filed against a software patent application filed in the patent office by Certicom, a wholly owned subsidiary of Research in Motion (RIM), manufacturers of Blackberry. The opposition was filed on August 31, 2010 by the Software Freedom Law Centre which has recently expanded its operations to India. This exciting development was announced by Mishi Choudhary from SFLC on the lines of the seminar on “Software Patents and the Commons” organised on 1 September 2010 in Delhi jointly by SFLC, the Centre for Internet and Society, the Society for Knowledge Commons and Red Hat. Filing more such oppositions to software patents in India was in the pipeline and this is just the beginning of a movement to take on monopolisation of knowledge and ideas through patenting software, the organisers said.
Located in Access to Knowledge / Blogs
Blog Entry Research Project on Open Video in India
by Pranesh Prakash published Apr 05, 2010 last modified Aug 23, 2011 02:51 AM — filed under: , , ,
Open Video Alliance and the Centre for Internet and Society are calling for researchers for a project on open video in India, its potentials, limitations, and recommendations on policy interventions.
Located in Openness / Blog