Provisional & complete specs
Category: Trademark & IP. From ₹19,999. Typical timeline: 12–36 months.
Overview
Patent filing protects a genuinely novel, non-obvious and industrially applicable invention by securing exclusive rights for 20 years, typically starting with a provisional application to lock in an early priority date, followed by a complete specification within 12 months, examination request, and prosecution before the Patent Office grants the patent. This service manages the full lifecycle from patentability assessment and drafting through to grant, for both provisional and complete filings.
Who needs it
- Startups and R&D teams with a new product, process or technical improvement to protect
- Manufacturing companies developing proprietary processes or mechanical innovations
- Deep-tech and hardware companies needing to secure IP before fundraising or product launch
- Businesses planning to license or commercialise a technical innovation
Eligibility
- The invention must be novel, involve an inventive step, and be capable of industrial application
- Must not fall under non-patentable subject matter listed in the Patents Act (such as a mere discovery, business method, or algorithm as such)
- Applicant can be the inventor, an assignee, or a legal representative
Documents required
- Detailed technical description of the invention, including drawings/diagrams
- Provisional or complete specification, as applicable
- Inventor and applicant details with proof of right to apply
- Prior art search results and novelty assessment
- Power of attorney, if filed through an agent
Process
- Patentability search — Conduct a prior art search to assess novelty and inventive step before drafting.
- Provisional filing — File a provisional specification to secure an early priority date while the invention is still being finalised.
- Complete specification — File the complete specification with full claims within 12 months of the provisional filing.
- Publication and examination request — The application is published after 18 months; a request for examination must be filed to move it forward.
- Prosecution and grant — Respond to examination reports (First Examination Report) and attend hearings until the patent is granted.
Government fees
- Provisional/complete specification filing (natural person/startup/small entity): ₹1,600 / ₹4,000
- Filing fee (large entity): ₹8,000 (approximate, per application)
- Request for examination fee: Varies by applicant category
Professional fee
Our fee starts at ₹19,999, covering prior art search, specification drafting, filing and prosecution support through to grant.
Timeline
The overall grant process typically takes 12–36 months or longer from complete specification filing, depending on examination queue times and the number of office actions to be addressed.
Deliverables
- Filed provisional and/or complete specification
- Published patent application
- Responses to examination reports
- Patent grant certificate
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a provisional and complete specification?
A provisional specification secures an early priority date with a basic description of the invention, while the complete specification, filed within 12 months, contains the full technical description and formal claims.
How long does patent protection last?
A granted patent is protected for 20 years from the date of filing the complete specification, subject to payment of annual renewal fees.
Can software be patented in India?
Computer programs "as such" are excluded from patentability, but software tied to a novel technical effect or hardware implementation can be patentable depending on how the claims are drafted.
Common mistakes
- Publicly disclosing the invention before filing, which can destroy novelty
- Filing only a provisional specification and missing the 12-month deadline to file the complete specification
- Drafting claims too narrowly or too broadly without proper prior art analysis
- Delaying the request for examination, which can push grant timelines out further
Penalties for non-compliance
- Missing the 12-month deadline to convert a provisional to a complete specification results in the provisional application being treated as abandoned, with loss of the priority date
- Failure to pay annual renewal fees after grant results in the patent lapsing
- Public disclosure before filing can be used to invalidate a subsequently filed application on novelty grounds
Legal references
- Patents Act, 1970 — Section 2(1)(j) defines invention and patentability criteria
- Patents Act, 1970 — Section 3 lists non-patentable inventions
- Patents Rules, 2003 — prescribes filing procedure, forms and fee structure
What will this cost you?
Adjust the options below for an instant, indicative estimate. Final pricing is confirmed once our team reviews your specific documents.
All catalogue prices are exclusive of GST. Tax (typically 18%) is calculated and added at checkout. Government fees vary by state and are confirmed before filing.
Packages for this service
Every tier includes the same filing accuracy and compliance review — the difference is turnaround priority, support access and how hands-on we are with your documents.
Indicative tiers — talk to us to confirm exact scope and pricing for your business.
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