Request for Expedited Examination of Application for Patent (Form 18A) (India)
This form is used by patent applicants in India to request an expedited examination of their patent application. It allows startups or applicants who used India as an International Searching/Preliminary Examining Authority to speed up the patent review process.
“FORM 18 A THE PATENTS ACT,1970 and THE PATENT RULES,2003 REQUEST FOR EXPEDITED EXAMINATION OF APPLICATION FOR PATENT [See section 11B and Rule 24C] | (FOR OFFICE USE ONLY) RQ. No.: Filing Date: Amount of fee Paid: CBR no: Signature: |
1. APPLICANT(s) (A)NAME: (B) NATIONALITY: (C) ADDRESS: | |
2. I/We ---hereby request that my/our application for patent no.---filed on---for --- ---the---invention titled --- ---shall be examined under sections 12 and 13 of the Act. or I/We ---hereby request that my/our application for patent no.---filed on---for --- ---the---invention titled --- --- based on Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application no... dated... made in country ... shall be examined under sections 12 and 13 of the Act, immediately without waiting for the expiry of 31 months as specified in rule 20(4)(ii). or I/We hereby request that my/our request for examination bearing no.---for application for patent no.---filed on---for --- the---invention titled --- ---may be converted to a request for expedited examination of patent application under rule 24C and the application shall be examined under sections 12 and 13 of the Act. |
The applicant(s) to indicate (by ticking the appropriate box) any of the grounds applicable in case of request for expedited examination made by on any of the following grounds:
a that the applicant is a startup, or c that India has been indicated as the competent International Searching Authority or elected as an International Preliminary Examining Authority in the corresponding international application.
ADDRESS FOR SERVICE IN INDIA:
... ...
Dated this day of 20
Signature
Name of the signatory
To
The Controller of Patent
The Patent Office, at ...
NOTE:
To be signed by the applicant(s) or by his/ their authorized registered patent agent
"Strike out the column(s) which is/ are not applicable.";
For fee: See First Schedule.";
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About this template
What is this template?
This document is a formal statutory form used to request the Controller of Patents to expedite the examination of a patent application. It is specifically Form 18A under the Indian Patents Rules and is not a standard Form 18 request for ordinary examination.
When should you use it?
Use this form when you meet specific criteria for acceleration, such as startup status, rather than using the standard Form 18 for a normal examination queue.
What's inside
| Clause | Name | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Paragraph 1 | Applicant Details | Identifies the name, nationality, and address of the applicant filing for expedited patent examination. |
| Paragraph 2 | Grounds for Expedited Examination | Requires the applicant to specify the statutory reason for the request, such as status as a startup or selecting India as the International Searching Authority. |
| Paragraph 3 | Declaration | Contains a formal statement that the information provided is correct and the applicant is authorized to make the request. |
Who it's for
- a startup or small entity seeking to accelerate a patent application in India
- an applicant who has selected India as the International Searching Authority in their PCT application
How long it runs and how it's signed
Law it's drafted under
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