India operates a first-to-file patent system under the Patents Act, 1970 — meaning the first person to file a valid application has priority over any later filer, regardless of who actually invented it first. A provisional application filed within ₹1,600–₹8,000 in government fees secures this priority date while the complete specification is developed. Suntew Business Solutions coordinates patent filing, PCT applications, and examination response for inventors and businesses in Mangalore and coastal Karnataka, working with registered patent agents under the Patents Act.
Mangalore’s industrial base — tile manufacturing, seafood processing technology, aquaculture equipment, chemical processing, and a growing IT sector — generates patentable inventions that frequently go unprotected, allowing competitors to replicate without legal exposure. The Indian Patent Office has a Chennai branch serving Karnataka. Patent applications filed without a qualified agent face high rates of objection and abandonment. Suntew Business Solutions coordinates all patent filings with registered patent agents (registered under Rule 109 of the Patent Rules, 2003).
Call UsA provisional application is the correct filing strategy when an invention is conceptually defined but not yet fully built or tested. Filing takes 2–5 working days. The provisional grants a 12-month period within which the complete specification must follow — failure to file a complete specification within 12 months results in abandonment of the provisional application and loss of the priority date.
A complete application contains the full specification — detailed description, enabling disclosure, drawings, abstract, and most critically, the claims that define the scope of protection. Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. Poorly drafted claims either fail examination or provide narrower protection than the invention merits. Suntew’s patent agents draft claims reviewed by technical specialists in the relevant field.
A Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application filed through the Indian Patent Office extends protection to 153+ member countries with a single application at a single filing date. National phase entry in each target country is required within 30 months of the priority date. This is cost-effective for Mangalore exporters, pharmaceutical researchers, and technology businesses expanding into Gulf, US, EU, and Southeast Asian markets before commercialising internationally.
Three criteria must all be met: (1) Novelty — the invention must not have been publicly disclosed anywhere in the world before the priority date; (2) Inventive Step (non-obviousness) — the invention must not be obvious to a person skilled in the relevant field; (3) Industrial Applicability — the invention must have practical utility in any industry.
The Patents Act, 1970 explicitly excludes: abstract mathematical methods, natural substances and their mere discovery, methods of medical treatment or diagnosis, computer programs per se (but not software-implemented inventions with a technical character and effect), business methods per se, agricultural and horticultural methods, and atomic energy inventions. The distinction between “computer programs per se” (excluded) and “software-implemented inventions” (potentially patentable) requires careful claim drafting — an area where experienced patent agents are essential.
India’s patent examination queue is long — securing your priority date on Day 0 is the only way to protect against competitors filing the same invention during examination.
| Stage | Timeline | Key Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional or Complete Application Filed | Day 0 | Priority date established — first-to-file protection active |
| Application Published in Patent Journal | 18 months from priority date | Automatic — public disclosure occurs |
| Request for Examination (Form 18/18A) | Within 31 months of priority date | Must file to trigger examination; no automatic review |
| First Examination Report (FER) Issued | 3–5 years from filing | Examiner raises objections to claims and specification |
| Reply to FER | Within 6 months (extendable by 3 months on fee) | Suntew’s agent drafts and files response |
| Hearing (if required) | Scheduled by Controller | Agent appears or submits written submissions |
| Patent Granted | Typically 5–7 years from filing | Certificate and publication in Patent Journal |
| Patent Validity | 20 years from filing date | Annual renewal fees required to maintain validity |
DPIIT-recognised startups receive an 80% concession on all official patent fees. Get DPIIT startup recognition first to unlock the concession before filing.
| Application Type | Individual / Startup | Small Entity (<₹25 Cr turnover) | Large Entity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provisional Application | ₹1,600 | ₹4,000 | ₹8,000 |
| Complete Specification | ₹1,600 | ₹4,000 | ₹8,000 |
| Request for Examination (Form 18) | ₹4,000 | ₹12,500 | ₹25,000 |
| Expedited Examination (Form 18A) | ₹8,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹60,000 |
| Annual Renewal (from Year 3) | Varies by year — Suntew tracks renewal calendar for all active patents | ||
| DPIIT Startup Concession | 80% rebate on all official fees for DPIIT-recognised startups | ||
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