{"id":141588,"date":"2025-07-01T18:00:40","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T12:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/?p=141588"},"modified":"2025-07-01T17:44:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T12:14:18","slug":"cri-guidelines-2025-version-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/cri-guidelines-2025-version-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian Patent Office Issues Draft CRI Guidelines 2025 \u2013 Version 2.0: Key Additions and Changes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On June 29, 2025, the Indian Patent Office published the <strong>Draft<\/strong><strong>\u00a0Guidelines for Examination of Computer-Related Inventions (CRI), 2025<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>Version 2.0\u00a0<\/strong>along with<strong>\u00a0Annexure-I<\/strong> for public consultation. This update follows the earlier draft issued in March 2025 and introduces expanded procedural guidance, additional case law references, and structured illustrative examples aimed at clarifying the application of Section 3(k) of the Indian Patents Act, 1970.<\/p>\n<p>This blog post outlines the key structural and substantive changes introduced in Version 2.0, based on a comparison with the March 2025 draft. You may access the Draft CRI guidelines version 2.0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ipindia.gov.in\/writereaddata\/Portal\/Images\/pdf\/Draft_CRI_Guidelines_2025_v2.0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a> and the annexure <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ipindia.gov.in\/writereaddata\/Portal\/Images\/pdf\/Annexure_I_-_Additional_Illustrative_Examples.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Structural Changes and Additions<\/h2>\n<h3>A. Expanded Document and length<\/h3>\n<p>Version 2.0 consists of 62 pages, compared to 47 pages in the March 2025 draft. An accompanying Annexure I (73 pages) provides a detailed set of non-exhaustive examples under each limb of Section 3(k).<\/p>\n<h3>B. Rearranged and renamed sections<\/h3>\n<p>A new Section 5 has been introduced: \u201cExamination of Inventions related to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), Blockchain, Quantum Computing.\u201d The section provides examination procedures specific to these emerging technologies.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Updates on Legal Interpretation and Case Law<\/h3>\n<h3>A. Expanded Jurisprudential References<\/h3>\n<p>Version 2.0 includes additional case law references decided between 2019 and 2024. Some of these include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>Ferid Allani v. Union of India (Delhi HC, 2019)<\/strong><\/em>: Discusses the application of the technical effect and technical contribution tests.<\/li>\n<li><em><strong>Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC v. Controller of Patents and Designs (Madras HC, 2024):<\/strong><\/em> Addresses exclusion under the mathematical method limb and clarifies that the presence of a mathematical formula alone does not render a claim unpatentable.<\/li>\n<li><em><strong>Opentv Inc. v. Controller of Patents and Designs (Delhi HC, 2023):<\/strong><\/em> Distinguishes Indian law from UK\/EPO approaches by emphasizing that business methods are absolutely excluded in India under Section 3(k).<\/li>\n<li><em><strong>Raytheon Company v. Controller General of Patents (Delhi HC, 2023):<\/strong><\/em> Clarifies that novel hardware is not a legal requirement for patentability of CRIs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These case references are integrated into the updated legal analysis in Section 3 of the guidelines.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Guidance on Emerging Technologies<\/h2>\n<p>Version 2.0 introduces detailed examination guidance on inventions related to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>AI \/ ML \/ DL<\/li>\n<li>Quantum Computing<\/li>\n<li>Blockchain Technology<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This section discusses the evaluation of such inventions in light of technical contribution, hardware-software integration, and real-world application, while reiterating that Section 3(k) exclusions continue to apply.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Illustrative Examples (Annexure I)<\/h2>\n<p>Annexure I categorizes examples under:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Mathematical Methods<\/li>\n<li>Algorithms<\/li>\n<li>Business Methods<\/li>\n<li>Computer Programs per se<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Each example in the annexure follows a structured three-step analysis:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li>Identification of the invention\u2019s objective<\/li>\n<li>Evaluation of whether any excluded subject matter is central to the invention<\/li>\n<li>Determination of whether the excluded subject matter forms part of a larger technical process or solution<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The examples span various domains, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Audio signal processing<\/li>\n<li>Drone navigation<\/li>\n<li>Medical imaging<\/li>\n<li>POS terminals<\/li>\n<li>Financial computations<\/li>\n<li>Biometric authentication<\/li>\n<li>Server load balancing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Annexure clarifies whether each example would be excluded under Section 3(k) or considered patent-eligible based on the presence of a technical effect and application.<\/p>\n<h2>5. Clarification on Patentability Standards<\/h2>\n<p>Version 2.0 reiterates that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>The presence of a computer program or mathematical method does not automatically disqualify a claim under Section 3(k).<\/li>\n<li>The substance of the claim and the technical contribution must be evaluated holistically.<\/li>\n<li>Use of a general-purpose computer must result in a specific and credible technical effect to avoid exclusion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>6. Examination Process<\/h2>\n<p>The updated guidelines emphasize that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Patent Examiners must determine the actual contribution of the claimed invention.<\/li>\n<li>If the contribution lies solely in excluded subject matter under Section 3(k), the claim is non-patentable.<\/li>\n<li>If the contribution includes a technical advancement or real-world technical effect, the claim must be evaluated further under Sections 2(1)(j), 2(1)(ja), and 2(1)(ac) for invention, inventive step, and industrial applicability, respectively.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>The Draft CRI Guidelines 2025 \u2013 Version 2.0, along with Annexure I, provide a more detailed, example-driven, and technology-specific approach to CRI examination.<\/p>\n<p>Stakeholders and the public are invited to provide their comments and suggestions on the draft guidelines. Feedback can be sent via email to\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:cgoffice.in@gov.in\"><strong>cgoffice.in@gov.in<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and<a href=\"mailto:sukanya.ipo@nic.in\">\u00a0<strong>sukanya.ipo@nic.in<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0with the subject line:\u00a0<strong>&#8220;Comments on Revised Draft CRI Guidelines 2025-Version 2.0&#8221;<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The last date for submitting comments is\u00a0<strong>07-07-2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Draft_CRI_Guidelines_Publication_March2025.pdf\">Draft CRI guidelines &#8211; Version 1.0 &#8211; March 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Draft_CRI_Guidelines_2025_v2.0.pdf\">Draft CRI guidelines &#8211; Version 2.0 &#8211; June 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Annexure_I_-_Additional_Illustrative_Examples.pdf\">Annexure to\u00a0Draft CRI guidelines &#8211; Version 2.0<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Version 2.0 of the Draft CRI Guidelines 2025 introduces updated examination procedures for AI, blockchain, and quantum-based inventions, and includes an extensive annexure of examples clarifying Section 3(k) exclusions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":141624,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":996,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,6723,14],"tags":[11280,5570,11279,419,576,8884,753,11278,423],"class_list":["post-141588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-intellectual-property","category-announcement","category-patents","tag-2025-patent-guidelines","tag-ai-patentability","tag-blockchain-inventions","tag-computer-related-inventions","tag-cri-guidelines","tag-india-patent-office","tag-patent-law-india","tag-quantum-computing-patents","tag-section-3k"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141588"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":141626,"href":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141588\/revisions\/141626"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bananaip.com\/intellepedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}