Patents Act, 1970
105. Power of court to make declaration as to non-infringement
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 34 of the
Specific Relief Act, 1963, (47 of 1963), any person may institute a suit for a
declaration that the use by him of any process, or the making, use or sale of
any article by him does not, or would not, constitute an infringement of a
claim of a patent against the patentee or the holder of an exclusive license
under the patent, notwithstanding that no assertion to the contrary has been
made by the patentee or the licensee, if it is shown-
(a) that the plaintiff has applied in writing
to the patentee or exclusive licensee for a written acknowledgment to the
effect of the declaration claimed and has furnished him with full particulars
in writing of the process or article in question; and
(b) that the patentee or licensee has refused
or neglected to give such an acknowledgment.
(2) The costs of all parties in a suit for a declaration brought
by virtue of this section shall, unless for special reasons the court thinks
fit to order otherwise, be paid by the plaintiff.
(3) The validity of a claim of the specification of a patent
shall not be called in question in a suit for declaration brought by virtue of
this section, and accordingly the making or refusal of such a declaration in
the case of a patent shall not be deemed to imply that the patent is valid or
invalid.
(4) A suit for a declaration may be brought by virtue of this
section at any time after the date of advertisement of acceptance of the
complete specification of a patent, and references in this section to the
patentee shall be construed accordingly.