What are the 5 requirements for obtaining a patent?

Asked by: Blair Gleason  |  Last update: February 1, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (45 votes)

A patent requires an invention to meet five core criteria: it must be Patentable Subject Matter, have Utility (be useful), be Novel (new), be Nonobvious (not just a simple improvement), and have an Enablement description, meaning the application clearly explains how to make and use it.

What are the 5 requirements for a patent?

The five primary requirements for patentability are: (1) patentable subject matter; (2) utility; (3) novelty; (4) non-obviousness; and (5) enablement. Like trademarks, patents are territorial, meaning they are enforceable in a specific geographic area.

What are the 5 steps to getting a patent?

  1. Step 1: Get ready to apply. Contact Patents. ...
  2. Step 2: File your application. Filing a patent application on your own. ...
  3. Step 3: Application prosecution. Filing a patent application on your own. ...
  4. Step 4: Receive your patent. Inventors Assistance Center. ...
  5. Step 5: Maintain legal protection for your invention. Pay your maintenance fees.

What are the requirements for obtaining a patent?

There are five requirements that must be met to obtain a patent: patentable subject matter, utility, novelty, nonobviousness and enablement.

What is the rule 7 of patent?

Rule 7.

(1) The fees payable under section 142 in respect of the grant of patents and applications therefor, and in respect of other matters for which fees are required to be payable under the Act shall be as specified in the First Schedule.

How to get your idea patented

38 related questions found

What are the 4 types of patents?

Utility patents protect new inventions, processes, and methods of production. Design patents focus on safeguarding the aesthetic aspects of a product. Plant patents are granted for new and distinct varieties of plants. Provisional patents secure an early filing date temporarily for an Innovation.

What is the rule 56 in patent law?

Rule 56 simply imposes such duty of disclosure (to the Patent Office), as such information is critical to the assessment of an invention's patentability. It is important to understand the nature of the duty of disclosure, as violating the provision can render a patent permanently unenforceable or invalid.

What are the three basic requirements for a patent?

Patent applications must satisfy the following three criteria:

  • Novelty. This means that your invention must not have been made public – not even by yourself – before the date of the application.
  • Inventive step. This means that your product or process must be an inventive solution. ...
  • Industrial applicability.

Who cannot apply for a patent?

You (the inventor) or your legal representative may apply for a patent, with some exceptions. These include if the inventor has died, is legally incapacitated, refuses to apply, or cannot be found. Two or more people inventing something together may apply for a patent as joint inventors.

How much money do you need for a patent?

The total patent cost in India ranges between ₹45,000 to ₹1,15,000 including professional fees for drafting and other services, depending on the complexity of the application and additional requirements like examination requests and responses to objections 123.

How do I protect my invention before a patent?

How to Legally Protect an Invention Before Getting a Patent

  1. 1 File a provisional patent application.
  2. 2 Execute a non-disclosure agreement.

How much does it usually cost to file a patent?

Non-Provisional Patent Application: $5,000 to $15,000. This cost covers the detailed preparation and filing of a non-provisional patent application. Patent Office Review: $1,000 to $3,000. This fee includes the review and examination of your patent application by the patent office.

Who cannot be patented?

What inventions cannot be patented in India?

  • inventions being frivolous or contrary to public order, morality, public health, the environment, etc.
  • scientific discoveries.
  • mere discoveries of new forms of known substances.
  • methods of agriculture or horticulture.

How much does a 20 year patent cost?

Obtaining and managing patent rights for an invention is very expensive. For example, a U.S. patent can cost in the range of $30,000 to $50,000 over its 20-year life. When a commercial partner is identified early (e.g., before a patent application is filed), that commercial partner often pays the patenting costs.

What is the form 5 of patent?

Form-5 is a declaration for the inventor that has to be created by the applicant for the true and first inventors of the particular invention. Form 5 consists of information about the applicant as well as the inventor, even it consists of the declaration of the “right to apply for patent”.

What disqualifies a patent?

An invention can be disqualified if an inventor discusses enough information about the invention for someone to be able to reproduce it. This could be in a journal publication, presentation at a conference, posting on a website, or even discussions with scientists from other academic institutions.

How long is a patent good for?

For instance, in the United States, utility patents are typically valid for 20 years starting from the filing date. Other countries might offer different durations or have particular conditions that modify how long this protection extends.

What patents does Elon Musk hold?

Elon Musk holds patents for early internet innovations like online mapping and business directories, while his companies, especially Tesla and SpaceX, have extensive patent portfolios in areas like electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and reusable rockets, despite his public stance against patents; he famously released Tesla's patents for open use but actively innovates and protects IP for his ventures. He has about 25 patents personally, but his companies hold thousands, covering innovations from AI for autonomous cars (like Tesla's Summon) to rocket technology. 

Do I need a trademark if I have a patent?

You can have both a trademark and a patent, though they won't be for exactly the same thing. A trademark can protect a creation's name, for example, and a patent can protect the actual creation itself.

What are the five statutory requirements for a patent?

To get a patent, an invention must meet five key requirements: it must be patentable subject matter, have utility, be novel (new), be nonobvious, and provide enablement (a clear description of how to make and use it) in the patent application. These criteria ensure the invention is a useful, original, and adequately described advancement in technology.
 

What do you need to prove to get a patent?

You can find the complete requirements at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). To qualify for a patent, your idea must be useful, new and non-obvious. Whether your invention is patentable is almost always determined by the very complex legal concept of obviousness.

What is the secret patent law?

The Invention Secrecy Act of 1951 requires the government to impose "secrecy orders" on certain patent applications that contain sensitive information, thereby restricting disclosure of the invention and withholding the grant of a patent.

What is Article 37 of the patent law?

(1) Patent Act Article 37 Article 37 provides that two or more inventions complying with the requirement of unity of invention may be filed for a patent in a single patent application. Furthermore, it also states as the requirement that two or more inventions must have a certain technical relationship among them.

What is the S 18 patent law?

The opening words of s 18 (1): “an invention is a patentable invention for the purposes of a standard patent if the invention…” 'Invention' is defined in Schedule 1: '[I]nvention means any manner of new manufacture the subject of letters patent and grant of privilege within s 6 of the Statute of Monopolies, and ...