Invitation for Comments on Draft Computer-Related Inventions Guidelines 2025

Invitation for Comments on Draft Computer-Related Inventions (CRI) Guidelines 2025

The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has published the Draft Guidelines for Examination of Computer-Related Inventions (CRI), 2025 for public consultation.

Stakeholders and the public are invited to provide their comments and suggestions on the draft guidelines. Feedback can be sent via email to sukanya.ipo@nic.in with the subject line: “Comments on Draft CRI Guidelines 2025”.

The last date for submitting comments is 15-04-2025.

For further details, please refer to the Draft CRI Guidelines 2025 .

The term “computer” is defined in The Information Technology Act, 2000 (No. 21 of 2000) as “any electronic, magnetic, optical or other high-speed data processing device or system which performs logical, arithmetic, and memory functions by manipulations of electronic, magnetic or optical impulses, and includes all input, output, processing, storage, computer software, or communication facilities which are connected or related to the computer in a computer system or computer network.”

Examination Procedure Related to CRI Applications – The examination procedure of patent applications relating to CRIs is the same as that for other inventions to the extent of consideration of novelty, inventive step, industrial applicability and sufficiency of disclosure, clarity, definitiveness etc. The determination that the subject matter relates to one of the excluded categories requires greater skill on the part of the Examiner and these guidelines focus more on this aspect.

In patent law, industrial applicability or industrial application is a patentability requirement according to which a patent can only be granted for an invention which is capable of industrial application, i.e. for an invention which can be made or used in some kind of industry.

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