Form 18 has to be filed by an applicant or any person with interest on a patent, in order to get his patent application examined either ordinarily (usually between 10 to 48 months) or expressly (usually 3 -12 months) from the date of filing.
If the request for examination is not filed within 48 months for Indian Patents and within 31 months for international applications designating India, such applications will be considered to be abandoned.
Details to be entered in the Form 18:
- Name, Nationality, Address of the Applicant or any person so applying:
- Date of Publication of the Application:
- Patent Application No.:
- Date of Filing:
- Title:
- Type of Request ordinary / express:
- PCT Application No., (in case of express request):
- PCT Country (in case of express request):
- If any person other than the applicant is submitting the request; his reason for such an application along with evidence.
- Address for Service in India.
For more details, refer:
- Section 11B – Request for Examination
- Rule 20(4)(i) – International Applications Designating or Designating and Electing India.
- Rule 24B(1)(i) – Examination of Application.