To be an inventor does not always mean that you come up with novel inventions but it often also encompasses a continuous search to add to, improve or modify existing inventions. It often happens that patent prosecution results in protection of specific aspects of the invention only, but additional research and commercialisation activities result in further additions, improvements and modifications which may fall outside the scope of the granted patent. To quote Max McKeown (author of The Innovator's Book: Rules for Rebels, Mavericks and Innovators) "new ideas are like babies, beautiful, ugly and not finished yet."

These additions to an invention are often not protected due to ignorance of the benefits of a patent of addition.

What follows below is a discussion of patents of addition in the South African context as well as brief commentary on the international perspective.

South Africa

Definition

The South African Patents Act, 57 of 1978 ("the Act") gives a tip of its hat to inventors who seek to add to, modify or improve their existing inventions. Section 39 of the Act makes specific provision for so-called patents of addition.

An applicant or patentee of a patent or application may apply for a patent of addition in respect of any addition to, improvement of or modification of the invention described or claimed in the complete specification of their existing application or patent.

It is of utmost importance that a patent of addition may not be used to merely broaden the scope of the claims of the existing application or patent.

Requirements

A patent of addition may be granted in respect of any addition to, improvement in or modification of the invention described or claimed in the complete specification of a patent for an invention ("the main invention") which has been applied for or granted. However, a patent of addition cannot be obtained in respect of a third party's main invention.

Inventiveness requirement

The Act specifies that, unlike the main invention, a patent of addition cannot be refused nor revoked on the ground that it lacks inventive step in view of the main invention.

It must be borne in mind that it does not mean a patent of addition is immune to an attack on any other ground, for example lack of novelty. To avoid such an attack, the claims of the patent of addition must be specifically directed at the improvement and must not simply read-on to the main invention.

Period of grant and renewal fees

The period of grant of a patent of addition is merely the remainder of the period for which the main invention is granted.

No renewal fees are required to be paid in respect of the patent of addition during this period.

Conversion of an independent patent to a patent of addition

An independent patent can be converted to a patent of addition (on a main invention) by request to the Registrar of Patents. The independent patent is then revoked and the patent of addition is granted.

Surrender, revocation, refusal or abandonment of main invention

If the patent of the main invention is surrendered, revoked, refused or abandoned the patent of addition attached to it will also automatically be so unless the Registrar of Patents directs that it becomes independent; however, the term for such a patent will run for the duration of the time for that of the main patent.

A patent of addition will always expire on the same date as the patent of the main invention to which it is attached.

Assignment

A patent of addition and the patent of the main invention cannot be assigned separately from each other.

International perspective

Jurisdictions which make allowance for a patent of addition

Not all jurisdictions around the world recognise or make allowance for patents of additions. The following countries do make allowance for patents of addition: Algeria, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Djibouti, India, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, New Zealand, Panama, Serbia, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States of America (in the form of a continuation in part application), Zambia and Zimbabwe.

United States of America

A continuation-in-part is an application filed during the lifetime of an earlier nonprovisional application, repeating some substantial portion or all of the earlier nonprovisional application and adding matter not disclosed in the earlier nonprovisional application. A separate annuity (renewal fee) is to be paid for the maintenance of a continuation-in-part application.

European Union

The European Patent Convention does not provide for a European patent of addition. Whilst certain member states of the European Patent Convention make allowance for patens of addition, (such as Austria, Turkey and Greece), the vast majority do not.

The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation ("ARIPO")

The Harare Protocol does not make provision for the filing of a patent of addition. A patent of addition can only be filed in those member states whose national laws make provision for the filing of a patent of addition.

As an example, the national laws of Namibia and Zimbabwe makes provision for the filing of a patent of addition.

Patent Cooperation Treaty ("PCT)

Article 2 of the PCT defines the meaning of application as follows: "application" means an application for the protection of an invention; reference to an "application" shall be construed as references to applications for patents for inventions, inventors' certificates, utility certificates, utility models, patents or certificates of addition, inventors' certificates of addition, and utility certificates of addition.

It is clear that the above definition covers patents of addition. Therefore, in principle, if an applicant wants the international application to be treated as a patent of addition or continuation-in-part in the designated state, he/she may indicate this in the request for national phase entry.

Conclusion

It is clear that additions, improvements and/or modifications may in many instances be protected through a patent of addition. Communication between the applicant and patent attorney are essential to ensure alignment of protection with research, development and commercial activities.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.