Though computer programs per se are excluded from patentability as per Section 3(k) of the Patents Act, 1970, the “Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions” issued by the Indian Patent Office in August 2015 is expected to change this to a large extent (read more here). Below is an infographic that outlines the evolution of India’s software patent law, charting the journey from the introduction of Section 3(k) to the publication of the 2015 CRI Guidelines and the ensuing criticism.
