Patents Act, 1970
13. Search for anticipation by previous publication and by
prior claim
(1) The examiner to whom an application for a patent is referred
under section 12 shall make investigation for the purpose of ascertaining
whether the invention so far as claimed in any claim of the complete
specification-
(a) has been anticipated by publication before
the date of filing of the applicant's complete specification in any
specification filed in pursuance of an application for a patent made in India
and dated on or after the 1st day of January, 1912;
(b) is claimed in any claim of any other
complete specification published on or after the date of filing of the
applicant's complete specification, being a specification filed in pursuance of
an application for a patent made in India and dated before or claiming the
priority date earlier than that date.
(2) The examiner shall, in addition, make an investigation as
the Controller may direct for the purpose of ascertaining, whether the
invention, so far as claimed in any claim of the complete specification, has
been anticipated by publication in India or elsewhere in any document other
than those mentioned in sub-section (1) before the date of filing of the
applicant's complete specification.
(3) Where a complete specification is amended under the
provisions of this Act before it has been accepted, the amended specification
shall be examined and investigated in like manner as the original
specification.
(4) The examination and investigations required under section 12
and this section shall not be deemed in any way to warrant the validity of any
patent, and no liability shall be incurred by the Central Government or any
officer thereof by reason of, or in connection with, any such examination or
investigation or any report or other proceedings consequent thereon.