Frequently Asked Questions
Considering the inquiries made to the Student Scientific Associations and the frequently asked questions of those interested in how to register an invention in the country, the following explanation addresses the questions of these individuals. It is hoped that this will be helpful to our esteemed inventors.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1 - Where do we go to register an invention?
To register an invention, you must go to the General Directorate of Companies and Industrial Property Registration located in Tehran, Mirdamad Street, intersection of Modarres-Mirdamad Expressway.
2- Is it possible to register an invention elsewhere besides Tehran?
No, currently, invention registration is only done in Tehran and at the General Directorate of Companies and Industrial Property Registration.
3) What types of inventions are registerable?
Inventions that are new, involve an inventive step, and have industrial applicability are registerable.
4) What types of inventions are excluded from the scope of invention protection?
The following items are excluded from the scope of invention protection: 1) Discoveries, scientific theories, and mathematical methods. 2) Plans and rules or methods for performing business and what is for purely intellectual activities or playing games. 3) Methods of treating the human or animal body through treatment or surgery, as well as methods of diagnosing diseases that are performed on the human or animal body.
5) What documents are required to register an invention?
To register an invention, the following documents must be completed and submitted to the General Directorate of Companies and Industrial Property Registration:
• Invention registration application in 3 copies: The invention registration application is a specific form that is part of the securities, and the applicant must obtain it from the securities circulation unit located in the General Directorate of Companies and Industrial Property Registration and complete and sign it (a sample of this form is provided at the end of the questions and answers)
• Detailed description of the invention in 3 copies: The invention claimed by the inventor must be fully described. In the description of the invention, all aspects of the claimed invention must be clearly stated. A4 paper should be used to prepare the description of the invention.
• Invention drawings in 3 copies: Complete drawings of the invention must be prepared with ink and on a metric scale, and the applicant or their attorney must sign the bottom of the drawings. The invention drawings should be drawn on paper 34 cm long and 22 cm wide and only one side of the paper should be used.
• Claims in 3 copies: That the invention solves what problem with the provision of a practical solution and what advantages it has and information that specifies the amount of protection resulting from the registration right.
• Photocopy of the inventor's or inventors' identity card
• Bank receipt for the registration fee of the invention application
6) Does the inventor necessarily have to take action to register the invention themselves?
No, the application for invention registration can be done by the applicant's attorney. In this case, the application must be accompanied by the original power of attorney with a copy or a certified photocopy attached to the application.
7) How is the invention registration system in our country?
The invention registration system in our country is a declared system. According to this system, the invention registration is done according to the inventor's claim. That is, the inventor's claim is considered to be correct, and provided that there is no prior registration, the inventor's claim (provided that the invention is within the scope of registration protection or not/question and answer item 4) is registered.
8) How many years is the validity of the invention certificate (document)?
In Iranian law, the validity period of the invention registration certificate will be at the inventor's request for 5 or 10 or 15 or up to 20 years, which must be explicitly stated in the invention registration certificate.
9) What actions are taken if the invention is accepted or rejected?
- If the invention is accepted, the invention registration is prepared as an announcement and delivered to the applicant or their attorney for inclusion in the official gazette of the country. After being included in the official gazette, a copy of the gazette is submitted to the Industrial Property Office, and the invention registration certificate is completed by the said office, and a copy of the description, claims, and drawings of the invention are attached and corded with the signature of the director general and sealed with the seal of the General Directorate of Companies and Industrial Property Registration and delivered to the applicant or their legal attorney.
• If the invention is rejected, it is notified in writing (administrative warning form) to the applicant or their legal attorney. In this case, the applicant or their legal attorney can, within 10 days from the date of notification of the rejection of the application, file a lawsuit and complain about the decision of the General Directorate of Companies and Industrial Property Registration to the competent judicial authorities located in Tehran. If no lawsuit is filed within 10 days from the date of notification of the decision of the Industrial Property Office, the claim will no longer be heard in the competent judicial authorities.
10) What is the scientific evaluation and approval of the invention and where is its legal authority?
The purpose of the scientific evaluation and approval of the invention is the search and scientific review of the invention document by relevant experts using scientific experiences, consultations, and internal and external databases, and according to the law, this evaluation is carried out by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and through the country's scientific and research centers.
11) Is the scientific evaluation and approval of the invention mandatory?
No, it is optional. The request for scientific evaluation and approval of the invention can be made both by the applicant and by the General Directorate of Companies and Industrial Property Registration.
12) Does the scientific evaluation and approval of the invention involve any costs?
Currently, no.
13) Are there any special conditions for evaluating and approving the invention?
The following conditions are necessary for accepting the request for scientific evaluation and approval of the invention:
1-13) Initial registration of the invention in legal authorities (General Directorate of Companies and Industrial Property Registration) and providing the registration certificate
2-13) Providing the request for scientific evaluation and approval of the invention, along with complete and documented documents of the registered invention
3-13) Scientific evaluation and approval of the invention will not be done more than 2 times (meaning that if the scientific validity of the invention is rejected, the applicant can only have it scientifically evaluated once more by an authority other than the initial reviewing authority).
14) Where should one go to request scientific evaluation and approval of the invention?
To request scientific evaluation and approval of the invention, it is necessary to go to the "General Directorate of Innovators and Technology Evaluation" located in Tehran, Enghelab Street, Ferdowsi Square, Forsat Street, No. 71, 5th floor. In addition to the General Directorate of Innovators and Technology Evaluation, the following regional authorities can also be contacted for scientific evaluation and approval of the invention.
1) Greater Tehran: Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, University of Tehran (IP units)
2) Central Regional Authority of the country, Isfahan, Isfahan University of Technology (IP unit)
3) Southern Regional Authority of the country, Shiraz, Shiraz University (IP unit)
4) Eastern Regional Authority of the country, Mashhad, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (IP unit)
5) Northwestern Regional Authority of the country, Tabriz, University of Tabriz (IP unit)
15) Where can one go to request support for completing the invention and commercializing the invention?
To request support for completing the invention, you can directly go to "Growth Centers" and to commercialize the invention, you can directly go to "Technology Parks". In addition to the above, all regional authorities (the authorities mentioned in item 14) and the General Directorate of Innovators and Technology Evaluation are ready to guide and introduce applicants to growth centers and technology parks and other institutions and organizations that support innovators. The address, telephone number, and fax number of all growth centers and technology parks can be obtained from the General Directorate of Innovators and Technology Evaluation.
16) Is financial support provided for registering an invention abroad?
Yes, inventors whose inventions meet the following conditions can benefit from financial support for registration abroad, up to 50% of the total cost.
1-16) Their invention has been registered in the country (General Directorate of Companies and Industrial Property Registration).
2-16) They have received scientific evaluation and approval from the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (through the General Directorate of Innovators and Technology Evaluation or the regional authorities mentioned in item 14).
3-16) They have selected and introduced their legal attorney.
4-16) They have prepared a business plan for their invention.
5-16) They have completed the relevant WPIS forms.
6-16) They have obtained financial support permission from the "Specialized Committee for Invention Registration Abroad".
