Patent filing services for startups, innovators & businesses.

Patent filing is the formal process of submitting a patent application to a patent office to obtain exclusive legal rights over an invention for a defined term — 20 years for utility patents in most jurisdictions.

The true and first inventor, an assignee of the inventor, or a legal representative can file a patent application at the Indian Patent Office under the Patents Act, 1970.

Filing itself takes 1–2 weeks after finalizing the draft. Grant typically takes 3–5 years depending on examination backlog and expedited-examination eligibility.

Cost has two parts: official fees set by the Patent Office, which depend on applicant category, application type, and the number of claims and pages; and professional fees for searching, drafting, filing, and prosecution. Because both vary with the invention, we quote per matter after understanding the technology and filing plan.

A provisional application secures a priority date with a technical description. It gives the applicant 12 months to file a complete specification with formal claims.

A complete (non-provisional) specification includes the full technical description, formal claims, abstract, and drawings — and must fully enable the invention for a person skilled in the art.

A provisional secures priority without claims and gives 12 months to file complete. A complete specification is examined by the patent office and forms the basis of the granted patent.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) allows a single international application to preserve filing rights in 150+ countries for 30/31 months before national-phase entry decisions must be made.

PCT filing is typically made within 12 months of the priority (provisional or first) filing to preserve global filing options across all PCT member states.

National phase entry is the process of converting a PCT application into individual national or regional patent applications within 30 or 31 months from the priority date.

Convention filing uses the Paris Convention's 12-month priority window to file directly in foreign countries without going through the PCT route.

Yes. Industrial designs are registered under the Designs Act, 2000 at the Design Wing of the Patent Office, Kolkata. The initial term is 10 years, extendable by 5 years.

A utility patent protects the functional aspects of an invention — how it works, is used, or is made — for a term of 20 years from the filing date.

Software per se is excluded under Section 3(k). However, software with a technical effect on hardware or solving a technical problem may be patentable when drafted correctly.

Yes. AI-related inventions with a demonstrable technical effect, novel architecture, or hardware integration can be patented in India when the specification frames the technical contribution clearly.

Form 1 (application), Form 2 (specification), Form 3 (foreign filing statement), Form 5 (inventorship declaration), and Form 26 (POA) are the core forms for filing at the IPO.

Form 18 is the Request for Examination. It must be filed within the period prescribed under the Patents Rules, calculated from the priority or filing date; the prescribed period has been amended over time, so we confirm the deadline applicable to your application.

Form 27 is the statement of working filed by the patentee disclosing commercial working of a granted patent in India, at the intervals prescribed under the Rules.

The FER is the substantive examination report issued by the Controller setting out prior art citations and objections. The applicant must place the application in order for grant within the period prescribed under the Rules, which may be extended on request in the manner permitted.

The application is treated as abandoned. Limited relief may be available in specific circumstances under the Act and Rules, so missed deadlines should be raised with us immediately.

Yes. Natural persons, DPIIT-recognised startups, small entities, and educational institutions are eligible for reduced official fees under the prescribed fee schedule. We confirm the category and applicable fees before filing.

Yes. Universities, government research institutions, and educational institutions qualify as small entities and receive reduced official fees at the IPO.

A utility patent is valid for 20 years from the filing date, subject to payment of annual renewal fees from the 3rd year onward in India.

Yes. All Indian patent applications are e-filed through the IP India portal. Hashi handles the entire e-filing workflow on behalf of the applicant.

Foreign applicants must file through a registered Indian patent agent. Indian residents may file directly but professional filing is strongly recommended for enforceability.

Yes — and you should. Public disclosure before filing destroys novelty in most jurisdictions. India and the US offer limited grace periods but foreign rights may be lost.

You may still file in India and the US within 12 months of your own disclosure under the grace period, but foreign filing rights outside the grace period are typically lost.

Priority date is secured by filing a provisional or complete specification at any patent office within the Paris Convention. All later foreign filings can claim this date.

Patent prosecution is the back-and-forth with the patent office after filing — responding to examination reports, amending claims, and attending hearings until grant or refusal.

Yes. We prepare US provisional, non-provisional, continuation, and design applications and coordinate filing and prosecution at the USPTO with US counsel.

Yes. We prepare European applications and coordinate filing, examination, and validation with qualified European counsel.

Applications filed in India can be tracked on the IP India portal using the application number. We also maintain a docket of deadlines and status for every matter we handle.

Renewal (annuity) is the periodic fee payable to keep a granted patent in force. In India renewal fees become payable from the third year and increase over the term.

The patent ceases to have effect. Restoration may be applied for within the period prescribed under the Patents Act, subject to the Controller being satisfied that the lapse was unintentional.

Amendments are permitted under the Patents Act by way of disclaimer, correction, or explanation, and cannot extend beyond the scope of the original disclosure. Post-grant amendments require the Controller's approval.

Yes. We prepare and respond to pre-grant and post-grant opposition proceedings at the Indian Patent Office and support equivalent proceedings in other jurisdictions with local counsel.

Yes. Invention disclosures are treated as confidential and access is limited to the team working on your matter. NDA arrangements can be put in place before any technical discussion.

Send us a short description of your invention through the contact form, or request a confidential consultation. We will discuss the invention, recommend a filing route, and share a scoped quote.