Leaders in innovation achieve full value from their inventions by obtaining a pioneer patent. Obtaining an early breakthrough in any field of technology is a primary objective of all inventors and it is a priority for R&D based companies of all types and sizes. Laggards, on the other hand, compete with leaders through the development of minor improvements on major inventions. The Patent Law presents an attractive patent protection for both traditional pioneer inventions and improvement inventions. The incremental innovations to pioneer patents does provide a springboard to the new entrant in the field to achieve the initial patent protection necessary to create a market space for laggards.
DPS Parmar discusses the modalities of improvement patents and modification patents with reference to blanket patenting and picket–fencing.
1st published in the The Patent Lawyer (CTC Media)