Patent Registration

Protect your inventions, processes, and industrial designs with IPO Pakistan. Prior art search, patent specification drafting, filing, examination, and grant — handled by a patent lawyer in Lahore.

WHAT THIS SERVICE IS

Patent Registration — Exclusive Rights to Your Invention

A patent gives you the exclusive right to make, use, sell, and license your invention in Pakistan for up to 20 years. No one can legally manufacture, copy, import, or commercialize your patented invention without your permission — and you have full legal recourse if they try.

Patent law in Pakistan is governed by the Patents Ordinance, 2000 and the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2010 under the Patents Rules, 2003. Pakistan operates a first-to-file system — whoever files first wins, regardless of who invented first. As a patent lawyer in Lahore and High Court Advocate, IUR handles your complete patent application from prior art search through to grant.

First-to-File — Act Immediately

Pakistan is a first-to-file jurisdiction. If two inventors create the same invention, the one who files the patent application first gets the patent — not the one who invented first. If you have an invention that could be patented, file immediately. Every day you delay is a day your competitor could file ahead of you.

AT A GLANCE

Service Snapshot

Topic	Details
Governing Law	Patents Ordinance, 2000 · Patents (Amendment) Act, 2010 · Patent Rules, 2003
Authority	Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO Pakistan)
Patent Types	Invention Patent (20 years) · Utility Model (10 years) · Design Patent (15 years)
Three Criteria	Novelty · Inventive Step · Industrial Application — all three are mandatory for patent protection.
Timeline	12–36 months from filing to grant (complexity-dependent).
Priority Period	12 months to claim international priority from the filing date.
Annual Renewal	Required from Year 5 onwards to keep the patent in force.
Handled By	Advocate Inam Ur Rehman — Patent Lawyer in Lahore, LLM Gold Medalist.

TYPES OF PATENTS

Which Patent Type Do You Need?

Pakistan recognizes three types of patents under the Patents Ordinance. Choosing the right type determines your protection duration, examination process, and costs:

Topic	Details
Automatic Copyright	Exists from the moment of creation. No paperwork is required. However, you must prove ownership yourself if a dispute arises through drafts, timestamps, or witnesses.
Registered Copyright	An IPO Pakistan Registration Certificate serves as prima facie evidence of ownership in court, shifting the burden of proof to the party challenging your rights.
Who Can Challenge You	Without registration, anyone may claim they created the work first, and you must disprove their claim with evidence.
Legal Proceedings	Registered copyright makes it significantly faster and more cost-effective to stop infringement and pursue legal remedies and damages.
Assignment / Licensing	Registration makes copyright assignments and licensing transactions legally stronger, allowing buyers and licensees to independently verify ownership.

Which Type Fits You — Free Advice

Not sure which type fits your invention? Most technical inventions (new products, new processes, new methods) go for a full Invention Patent. If you've made a practical improvement to an existing product, a Utility Model is faster and cheaper. If your invention is about visual appearance or aesthetics of a product (shape, colour, pattern), a Design Patent is the right route. WhatsApp us a brief description and we'll advise.

PATENTABILITY REQUIREMENTS

The Three Criteria — All Must Be Met

Under Section 7 of the Patents Ordinance, 2000, an invention is patentable only if it satisfies all three of the following:

1 Novelty

The invention must be entirely new — not disclosed anywhere in the world before the filing date, whether in published documents, oral disclosures, exhibitions, or commercial use. Prior art includes everything disclosed globally, including traditional knowledge. Even your own prior disclosure of the invention (without a grace period) can destroy novelty. This is why keeping your invention confidential until filing is critical.

2 Inventive Step

The invention must not be obvious to a person skilled in the relevant technical field. It must involve a non-trivial creative leap beyond what is already known. A minor, incremental change to an existing product that any skilled technician would have thought of does not qualify.

3 Industrial Application

The invention must be capable of being made or used in some kind of industry — it must have a practical, real-world application. Pure theoretical discoveries without a practical use case do not satisfy this criterion.

WHAT CANNOT BE PATENTED

Non-Patentable Subject Matter

The following are explicitly excluded from patentability under the Patents Ordinance, 2000:

Discoveries and scientific theories — finding something that already exists in nature is not considered an invention.
Mathematical methods — formulas, algorithms, and abstract mathematical concepts are excluded.
Mental acts, games, and business methods — schemes, rules, or methods for performing a mental act or conducting business.
Computer software as such — software per se is not patentable, though software‑implemented inventions with a technical character may still qualify.
Literary, artistic, and aesthetic works — these fall under copyright protection, not patents.
Naturally occurring substances — substances found in nature, even if isolated, are not patentable.
Plants and animals — except for microorganisms and microbiological processes.
Diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical methods — for the treatment of humans or animals.
Inventions contrary to public order or morality — including those that endanger human, animal, or plant life.

The Line Is Often Technical — Always Consult First

The line between patentable and non-patentable is often technical. A software-implemented invention with a specific technical effect may be patentable even though pure software is not. A new chemical compound found in nature may not be patentable, but a novel process for producing it may be. Before concluding your invention is not patentable, consult a patent lawyer in Lahore — what seems obvious may have a patentable angle.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

What You'll Need to File

Required Documents for Patent Application

Applicant details — full name, address, and nationality of the applicant (individual or company)
Inventor details — full name and address of the inventor(s), and their relationship to the applicant
Patent specification — the most critical document: title, description of invention, claims, abstract, and drawings (we draft this professionally)
Claims — precisely worded statements defining the scope of protection sought (drafted by us)
Abstract — a concise technical summary of the invention (150 words maximum)
Technical drawings / diagrams — required if the invention has a physical form or mechanical/structural elements
Deed of Assignment — if the applicant is different from the inventor (notarized)
Power of Attorney — authorizing IUR to file on your behalf
CNIC (individuals) or Certificate of Incorporation + NTN (companies)
Priority document — if claiming priority from a foreign application filed within the last 12 months

Patent Specification — Where Most Applications Fail

The patent specification is the most important document in your application. Poorly drafted claims that are too narrow give competitors easy workarounds. Claims that are too broad get rejected. The specification must describe the invention in enough detail for a skilled person to reproduce it, while the claims must define the broadest defensible scope of protection. This is where professional drafting makes the difference between strong and weak patent protection.

OUR PROCESS

Step-by-Step — From Search to Grant

1 Prior Art Search

Before drafting anything, we conduct a prior art search through IPO Pakistan (Form P-27) and international databases (WIPO, Espacenet) to confirm your invention is novel. A search at this stage prevents filing an application that will inevitably be rejected — saving time and government fees.

2 Patentability Assessment

We assess your invention against all three criteria — novelty, inventive step, and industrial application — and advise on the strongest filing strategy. We also recommend the right patent type (invention, utility model, or design).

3 Patent Specification Drafting

We draft the complete patent specification — description, claims, abstract, and drawings guidance. The claims are crafted to be as broad as legally defensible, providing the widest possible scope of protection.

4 Filing with IPO Pakistan

Application filed with IPO Pakistan. Your filing date is established — giving you priority over anyone who files the same invention after this date, even before your patent is granted. You can now mark your invention ‘Patent Pending’.

5 Formality & Substantive Examination

IPO conducts a formality check (completeness) followed by substantive examination (novelty, inventive step, industrial application). If objections are raised, we draft and file the technical and legal response.

6 Publication & Opposition

Once accepted, your application is published in the IPO Patent Journal. Third parties have 3 months to file observations or oppositions. We monitor and handle any opposition.

7 Patent Granted

If unopposed (or opposition resolved), IPO grants your patent and issues the Patent Certificate. Valid for 20 years from filing date — subject to annual renewal fees from year 5.

MAINTAINING YOUR PATENT

Annual Renewal — Keep It in Force

A granted patent does not maintain itself. Under the Patents Ordinance, annual renewal fees must be paid to IPO Pakistan from the fifth year of the patent term onwards. Missing a renewal fee causes the patent to lapse — and a lapsed patent can be exploited by competitors freely.

Topic	Details
Years 1–4	No annual renewal fee is required.
Year 5 Onwards	An annual renewal fee must be paid before the expiry of each patent year.
Grace Period	A 6-month grace period is available after lapse, subject to payment of the prescribed penalty fee.
Restoration Deadline	An application for restoration must be filed within 18 months of the patent lapsing.
If Not Restored	The patent lapses permanently, and the invention enters the public domain.

We Track Your Renewal Deadlines

IUR maintains a renewal reminder calendar for every patent we file. We contact you before each renewal deadline so your patent never inadvertently lapses. If you have an existing patent registered elsewhere and need renewal management, we can take that on as well.

IP COMPARISON

Patent vs Copyright vs Trademark

Protection Type	Details
Patent	Protects inventions, including new products, processes, and methods. Registration is required. Protection lasts for 20 years, provided the invention is novel, involves an inventive step, and has industrial application.
Copyright	Protects original creative works such as books, artwork, software, music, and other literary or artistic creations. Protection arises automatically upon creation and generally lasts for the author's lifetime plus 50 years. Registration is optional but strongly recommended.
Trademark	Protects a brand's identity, including names, logos, slogans, and distinctive signs. Registration with IPO Pakistan is required. Protection lasts for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely.
Design Registration	Protects the visual appearance of a product, including its shape, pattern, configuration, or ornamentation. Protection lasts for 15 years and is separate from patent protection.

FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does patent registration take in Pakistan?

From filing to grant, typically 12 to 36 months depending on the complexity of the invention, IPO's examination workload, and whether any objections or oppositions arise. Simple utility model applications move faster. Full invention patents with complex technical specifications take longer. Crucially, your protection starts on the filing date — not when the grant arrives. You can mark your product 'Patent Pending' from the day of filing.

My invention is a new software feature. Can I patent it in Pakistan?

Pure software is not patentable under the Patents Ordinance, 2000. However, a software-implemented invention that produces a specific technical effect — a new technical process, a technical solution to a technical problem — may qualify if it meets the three patentability criteria. The distinction is between abstract software (not patentable) and software that implements a concrete technical invention (potentially patentable). This is a nuanced area — consult us before concluding either way.

I disclosed my invention at a conference before filing. Have I lost the right to patent it?

Possibly — prior disclosure by the inventor can destroy novelty under Pakistan's patent law, which may make the invention unpatentable. However, the Patents Ordinance provides a 12-month grace period if the invention was disclosed at an officially recognised exhibition. For other disclosures, the position is more complex. If you have already publicly disclosed your invention, contact us immediately — we will assess whether you still have a viable filing window.

Is Pakistan part of the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty)?

Not currently. Pakistan is not yet a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which means you cannot use a single PCT application to extend your Pakistan patent internationally. To protect your invention in other countries, you must file national patent applications in each country separately. The Patent Amendment Bill 2024 proposes PCT accession — which would significantly simplify international filing for Pakistani inventors. We advise on international filing strategies for clients seeking protection abroad.

Can I claim priority from a foreign patent application in Pakistan?

Yes — within 12 months. If you have already filed a patent application in another country (e.g., UAE, UK, USA), you can file a corresponding application in Pakistan within 12 months of that first filing date and claim the earlier filing date as your priority date. This is important for inventors who want international protection — file in one country first, then use the 12-month window to extend to Pakistan and other jurisdictions.

What happens if someone infringes my patent?

Under the Patents Ordinance, the patentee can initiate infringement proceedings before a District Court. Remedies include: a court injunction to stop the infringement immediately, damages or an account of profits, and in serious cases criminal prosecution under Chapter XIX of the Patents Ordinance. A registered patent certificate is your primary evidence in any infringement action. IUR handles both the patent registration and any subsequent infringement proceedings.

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