Compulsory License For Patents In India

Patents are granted to encourage the inventors to(f) Prejudice to the establishment of commercial
disclose their inventions and also to grant themactivities in India;
monopolistic right to exploit the invention. The(ii) Prejudice to the establishment or development of
objective of Patent Grant in India is to ensure thattrade or industry in India in goods not protected by
the inventions are worked in India on a commercialthe patent arising from restrictive conditions imposed
scale and to the fullest extent without any undueby the patentee;
delay.(iii) Non-working of the patent in India on a
Accordingly, any interested person after expiry of 3commercial scale;
years from grant of patent even though if he is a(iv) Demand for the patented articles being met by
license under the patent, may make an application toimportation from abroad; and
the Controller for grant of compulsory license on the(v) Commercial working of the patented invention in
grounds that:India being hindered or prevented by import of the
(a) the reasonable requirements of the public withpatented articles from abroad.
respect to the patented invention have not beenGrant of Compulsory license is for the remaining term
satisfied; andof patent unless a shorter period looks reasonable
(b) the patented invention is not available to theand required in case to the Controller.
public at a reasonable price.Further, it is to be noted that while granting the
(c) the invention is not worked commercially to fullestlicense the Controller shall take into account the
extent in territory of India.nature of invention, time elapsed, ability of applicant,
The circumstances constituting "failure to meet thehis efforts for obtaining a license on reasonable
reasonable requirements'' of public in respect of aterms. While granting a compulsory license reasonable
patent are as follows:royalty is also paid to the patentee having regard to
(i) Inadequate manufacture in India or failure to grantnature of Invention, its utility, expenses incurred in
licenses on reasonable terms with in a period of 6maintaining patent grant in India and other factors.
months form applying by the applicant resulting in:Normally request for grant of Compulsory License is
(a) Prejudice to an existing trade or industry or itspublished and Patentee and other interested persons
development,are afforded reasonable opportunity to defend the
(b) Prejudice to the establishment of a new trade orgrant. But in case of national emergency and other
industry in India,urgent condition in public interest the Controller may
(c) Prejudice to the trade or industry of any personfirst grant the License and then notify the Patentee
or class of persons,and other interested persons.
(d) Demand for the patented article not being metUnder special circumstances of medical emergency
adequately by local manufacture,supported by notification by foreign country in this
(e) Failure to develop an export market for theregard controller may grant compulsory license to
patented articles made in India,meet the medical emergency in that country.