Section 12: Patentable inventions
consolidated text (as amended). juris shows the text as it was consolidated; it does not confirm that this is the law in force today.
12. Patentable inventions
(1) An invention shall be patentable under this Act where it—
(i) is new;
(ii) involves an inventive step;
(iii) is capable of industrial application.
(2) An invention is new where it is not anticipated by prior art.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), prior art shall consist of anything
disclosed to the public, anywhere in the world, by publication in tangible
form or by oral disclosure, by use or in any other way, prior to the filing or,
where applicable, the priority date, of the application claiming the invention.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), disclosure to the public of the invention shall not be taken into consideration where—
(a) it occurred within 12 months preceding the filing date or, where
applicable, the priority date of the application; and
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Patents, Industrial Designs and Trademarks Act
(b) it was by reason or in consequence of acts committed by the
applicant or his predecessor in title or of an abuse committed by
a third party with regard to the applicant or his predecessor in
title.
(5) An invention shall be considered as involving an inventive step where,
having regard to the prior art relevant to the application claiming the invention, it would not have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the
art.
(6) An invention shall be considered industrially applicable where it can
be made or used in any kind of industry.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (6), the term “industry” shall be construed in its broadest sense and shall also cover handicraft, agriculture, fishery and services.
(8) Any commercial exploitation of an invention, which is contrary to
public order or morality, shall not be patentable.