The Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021 have been published by the Patent Office on September 23, 2021.
The Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021, has included “educational institutions” as a new category of beneficiary who will be considered at par with a natural person, start-up, and small entity in respect of the fees to be paid and for various other proceedings of the Patent Act. The definition of “educational institutions” has been provided in Rule 2 of the Patents Rules, 2003 after sub-rule (c) as,
“(ca) “educational institution” means a university established or incorporated by or under Central Act, a Provincial Act, or a State Act, and includes any other educational institution as recognised by an authority designated by the Central Government or the State Government or the Union territories in this regard;”
Educational institutions that falls under the above category can avail of the reduction in fees by submitting the relevant form in the Patent Office . We hope this initiative paves the way for more and more educational institutions to come forward and protect their patents by availing this facility for fee concession.
