• Berne Convention (Literary and Artistic Works), with effect from April 1, 1928
• Geneva Convention (Unauthorized Duplication of Phonograms), with effect from February 12, 1975 .
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), with effect from May 1, 1975
• Nairobi Treaty (Olympic Symbol), with effect from October 19, 1983
• Convention on biological diversity, with effect from February 18, 1994
• World Trade Organization (WTO) Member and Signatory to TRIPS Agreement, with effect from January 1, 1995
• Paris Convention, with effect from December 7, 1998
• Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), with effect from December 7, 1998
• Budapest Treaty (for deposition of microorganisms), with effect from December 17, 2001

• The Indian Patent Office has 134 Examiners, 31 Assistant Controllers, 4 Deputy Controllers, 1 Controller General, and 1 Senior Joint Controller.
• There are 1192 registered patent agents in India .
• 35, 067 patent applications had been filed in the year (2007-08).
• Only 20% out of the above applications have been filed by the Indian citizens.
• 15, 262 patents had been granted in the year (2007-08).
• Top patent filer at Indian Patent Office is Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) among the Indian as well as foreign organizations.
• Top patent filer at Indian Patent Office is Qualcomm among the foreign organizations.
• Top patent filer among the Indian Pharmaceuticals companies is Ranbaxy Laboratories; among the Indian IT or software companies its Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

• "Invention" means a new product or process involving inventive step and capable of industrial application
• Invention would not be considered novel if it is used or published in India or elsewhere before the date of filing/priority.
• The term of every patent granted is 20 years from date of filing.
• Depositing of biological materials mentioned in the specification at the time of filing is mandatory.
• The source of Geographical origin of the biological material used in invention is required to be disclosed in the specification.
• Every provisional application is accompanied by a complete specification within 12 months from the date of filing of the provisional application.
• Except where an early request for publication has been made, every patent will be published just after 18 months from the date of filing/priority and will be open for public on payment of fee prescribed.
• First Examination Report will be issued only after filing a request for examination [within 48 months from the date of filing/priority].
• Provision for filing request for examination by any other interested person (other than applicant) also has been introduced.
• Non-extendible time for putting the application in order for grant is 12 months from the date of issue of First Examination Report.
• Provision for the withdrawal of application by applicant any time before grant has been introduced.
• Provision of Pre-grant and Post-grant opposition has been introduced, where a pre-grant opposition can be filed by any person before the grant of patent, a post-grant opposition can be filed by any interested person after the grant of patent but before the expiry of 1 year.
• Without written permission no person resident in India can apply for a patent outside India .
• A patent of addition can be filed anytime during the term of main patent whereas a divisional patent is to be filed before the grant of patent.
• A patent can be challenged and revoked anytime after the grant of patent on a petition of any interested person or Central Government by the Appellate Board or on a counter-claim in a suit for infringement of the patent by the High Court.
• Compulsory license can be granted to any interested person after the expiration of 3 years from the date of grant for non-working, unreasonable price and fail to fulfill the demand of patented invention.
• Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) has now been constituted to hear appeals against the decisions of the Controller under the Patents Act, 1970.
• Unauthorized claim of patent rights shall be punishable with fine upto one lakh rupees.
• Practice by non-registered patent agents shall be punishable with fine upto five lakh rupees.
• India is now recognized as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and an International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA).
• Facility for e-filing of patent has been launched.
• Public search for 18 months publication and granted patents are available from the official website.

• Do not disclose or use your invention before filing the application.
• Conduct a prior art search before filing the application.
• As quickly as possible, file a Provisional Application before the Complete Specification.
• Disclose each and every portion of your invention in the complete specification.
• Start marketing just after the filing of patent application.
• Evaluate potential of your invention.
• Understand the technology involved and its point of difference with the existing one.
• Identify and understand the Marketplace - both domestic and foreign.
• Identify likely infringers, competitors, licensing possibilities.
• Prepare a budget to include likely Patents Costs, present & future.