What is the application process for a patent?

A patent application can be filed by the true inventor, an assignee, or a legal representative. The application may include a provisional or complete specification and can be submitted directly or through an authorized agent. In India, there are four patent offices located in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. The selection of the appropriate office is based on the applicant’s residential address, place of business, domicile, or the location where the invention originated. For foreign applicants without a business presence or domicile in India, the address of the appointed patent agent in India determines the jurisdiction. State-wise jurisdiction details are available for reference.

The priority date refers to the date of the initial patent application filing. The priority date is critical in the “first-to-file” patent system, as it determines precedence. Among applications with similar or identical subject matter, the earlier priority date application is given priority.

When filing in other countries, the applicant can claim priority from the first (parent) application. Subsequent applications filed in different regions are known as family members and share the same priority date. Although the overall process is consistent across jurisdictions, formats and requirements often differ. Professional assistance from a patent agent or attorney is usually necessary to navigate country-specific regulations effectively.