Anticipation by public display, etc
Section 31 of the Patents Act, 1970 deals with anticipation by public display, etc. An invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only of-- (a) the display of the invention with the consent of the true and first inventor or a person deriving title from him at an industrial or other exhibition to which the provisions of this The Act came into force on 01 Apr 1978.
An invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only of--
(a) the display of the invention with the consent of the true and first inventor or a person deriving title from him at an industrial or other exhibition to which the provisions of this section have been extended by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette, or the use thereof with his consent for the purpose of such an exhibition in the place where it is held; or
(b) the publication of any description of the invention in consequence of the display or use of the invention at any such exhibition as aforesaid; or
(c) the use of the invention, after it has been displayed or used at any such exhibition as aforesaid and during the period of the exhibition, by any person without the consent of the true and first inventor or a person deriving title from him; or
(d) the description of the invention in a paper read by the true and first inventor before a learned society or published with his consent in the transactions of such a society,
if the application for the patent is made by the true and first inventor or a person deriving title from him 1[not later than twelve months] after the opening of the exhibition or the reading or publication of the paper, as the case may be.
Section 31, The Patents Act, 1970 (Act 39 of 1970).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Questions about Section 31
What does Section 31 of the Patents Act deal with?
Section 31 of the Patents Act is headed "Anticipation by public display, etc". An invention claimed in a complete specification shall not be deemed to have been anticipated by reason only of-- (a) the display of the invention with the consent of the true and first inventor or a person deriving title from him at an industrial or other exhibition to which the provisions of this
How do I find court cases under Section 31 of the Patents Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Patents Act 31, section 31 Patents Act, section 31 of the Patents Act. People searching for it also type patent act section 31. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 31 of the Patents Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it.
When did Section 31 of the Patents Act come into force?
Section 31 of the Patents Act, cited as Patents Act 31, came into force on 01 Apr 1978, having been enacted on 19 Sep 1970. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.