Request for Expedited Examination of Application for Patent (Form 18A) (India) by Indian Patent Office
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:
☐ that the applicant is a startup, or
☐ 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?
Form 18A is a specific statutory filing for the Indian Patent Office to fast-track patent review. It is not a standard patent application but a supplemental request that must cite an existing application number and date.
When should you use it?
Use this form when you meet the specific eligibility criteria for accelerated examination, such as startup status, instead of the standard Form 18 Request for Examination.
What's inside
| Clause | Name | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Section 11B | Examination Request | Initiates formal examination of the invention under sections 12 and 13 of the Act immediately upon filing. |
| Rule 20(4)(ii) | PCT Application Waiver | Permits immediate examination of PCT applications without waiting for the standard expiry of 31 months from the priority date. |
| Rule 24C | Conversion Request | Allows an existing standard request for examination to be converted into an expedited request. |
| Grounds (a)-(c) | Eligibility Grounds | Requires the applicant to confirm eligibility as either a startup or via an Indian International Searching Authority designation. |
Who it's for
- a startup seeking to accelerate the patent grant process in India
- an applicant who designated India as the International Searching Authority for their PCT application
How long it runs and how it's signed
Law it's drafted under
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