INVENTION, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & INCOME

Assignment

Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property (IP) refers to the legal rights that protect creations, inventions, designs, written work, branding, and other original ideas developed by individuals or organizations.

Intellectual Property is explained by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as :

“Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.”

Since Fab Academy projects combine electronics, design, software, fabrication, and documentation, understanding Intellectual Property is important when deciding how a project can be shared, modified, or commercially used.

Types of Intellectual Property

Patents

A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. Patents benefit inventors by providing them with legal protection of their inventions. However, patents also benefit the society by providing public access to technical information about these inventions, and thus accelerating innovation.

A patent protects the functional and technical aspects of an invention. It gives the inventor exclusive rights to manufacture, use, or sell the invention for a limited period of time.

For MediBee, possible patent-related elements could include the pill dispensing mechanism, rotating compartment system, automated dispensing workflow, and integration between hardware and firmware.

At the current stage, MediBee is developed as an educational prototype within Fab Academy, and no patent application has been filed.

The value of patent protection

What kinds of inventions can be protected?

Patents may be granted for inventions in any field of technology, from an everyday kitchen utensil to a nanotechnology chip. An invention can be a product – such as a chemical compound, or a process, for example – a process for producing a specific chemical compound. Many products, in fact, contain a number of inventions. For example, a laptop computer can involve hundreds of inventions, working together.

Why protect inventions with patents?

The patent owner has the exclusive right to prevent or stop others from commercially exploiting the patented invention for a limited period within the country or region in which the patent was granted. In other words, patent protection means that the invention cannot be commercially made, used, distributed, imported or sold by others without the patent owner's consent. If such acts are carried out by third parties without such consent, the patent owner can go to court to seek remedies for patent infringement.

How to protect inventions through patents?

To obtain a patent, an inventor should draft a patent application and then submit it to a national or regional intellectual property (IP) office. This process includes several steps and entails diverse costs, depending on the regional or national laws of the country or countries in which the application is filed.

An invention can be protected in one or multiple countries, depending on the business strategy and financial resources of the inventors.

Patenting Process in India

In India, patents are governed by the Patents Act, 1970 (amended in 2005) and administered by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM). A patent in India is valid for 20 years from the date of filing.

Patent Offices in India

India has four regional patent offices that accept applications:

  • Kolkata — Head Office
  • Mumbai — For applicants from Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh
  • Chennai — For applicants from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and others in the south
  • Delhi — For applicants from the northern and central states

Step-by-Step Patenting Process

1

Assess Patentability

Before filing, verify that your invention meets the three core criteria under the Patents Act:

  • Novelty — the invention must not have been publicly disclosed anywhere before
  • Inventive Step (Non-obviousness) — it must not be obvious to a person skilled in the relevant field
  • Industrial Applicability — it must be capable of being made or used in an industry
2

Conduct a Prior Art Search

Search existing patents and publications to confirm your invention is genuinely novel. Useful databases include:

  • InPASS — Indian Patent Advanced Search System (ipindiaservices.gov.in)
  • Espacenet — European Patent Office's global database
  • Google Patents
3

Prepare & File a Patent Application

Applications are filed online through the Indian Patent Office e-filing portal (ipindiaonline.gov.in). There are two types of applications:

  • Provisional Application — Filed when the invention is not fully complete. Secures a priority date and gives the inventor 12 months to file the complete specification.
  • Complete Application — Filed with full technical details, claims, abstract, and drawings. Can be filed directly without a provisional application.

Key documents required:

  • Form 1 — Application for grant of patent
  • Form 2 — Patent specification (with claims and abstract)
  • Form 3 — Statement and undertaking under Section 8 (for foreign applications)
  • Form 5 — Declaration as to inventorship
  • Technical drawings and diagrams (if applicable)
4

Publication of the Application

After 18 months from the date of filing (or priority date), the application is automatically published in the Official Journal of the Patent Office. The applicant can also request early publication by filing Form 9 with the prescribed fee.

5

Request for Examination (RFE)

Publication alone does not trigger examination. The applicant must file a Request for Examination (Form 18) within 48 months from the date of filing. Without this request, the application is treated as withdrawn.

6

Examination & First Examination Report (FER)

A Patent Examiner reviews the application and may issue a First Examination Report (FER) citing objections related to novelty, inventive step, or formal requirements. The applicant must respond to the FER within 12 months of its issuance, providing clarifications or amendments to the claims.

7

Grant of Patent

Once all objections are resolved and the Controller is satisfied, the patent is granted and registered. The grant is published in the Official Journal of the Patent Office. The patent is valid for 20 years from the filing date, subject to payment of annual renewal fees.

Filing Fees (Approximate)

Fees vary based on the type of applicant. As of the current schedule:

  • Natural Person / Startup / Small Entity — Significantly reduced fees (e.g., ₹1,600 for e-filing a complete specification)
  • Educational Institution — Reduced fees applicable
  • Large Entity / Company — Full fees apply (e.g., ₹8,000 for e-filing a complete specification)

The complete fee schedule is available on the official Indian Patent Office website at ipindia.gov.in.

Timeline Overview

Stage Timeframe
Filing Date (Priority Date Secured) Day 0
Complete Specification (if provisional filed) Within 12 months
Automatic Publication 18 months from filing
Request for Examination (RFE) Deadline Within 48 months from filing
Response to FER Within 12 months of FER
Patent Grant Upon clearance of all objections
Patent Validity 20 years from filing date

Apply for a Patent in India

Patent applications in India are filed online through the Indian Patent Office e-filing portal. The portal allows inventors to submit provisional and complete applications, pay fees, track application status, and respond to examination reports.

Apply on the Indian Patent Office e-Filing Portal

Additional official resources:

Patent Applications Outside India

A patent granted in India only provides protection within India. If an inventor wants to protect their invention in other countries, separate applications must be filed in each jurisdiction — or a single international application can be filed through a treaty system.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), is the most widely used route for seeking patent protection in multiple countries simultaneously. A single PCT application, filed in one language, can cover over 150 member countries.

1

File an International Application (PCT)

An Indian applicant can file a PCT application through the Indian Patent Office, which acts as a Receiving Office. The application must be filed within 12 months of the Indian priority date to retain the original filing date internationally.

2

International Search Report (ISR)

WIPO arranges for an International Searching Authority (ISA) to conduct a prior art search and issue an International Search Report along with a written opinion on the patentability of the invention. This gives the applicant early feedback before entering individual countries.

3

National Phase Entry (30 Months)

Within 30 months from the priority date, the applicant must enter the national phase in each country where protection is desired. This involves paying national fees, providing translations where required, and appointing local patent agents in each jurisdiction.

Learn About PCT at WIPO

Regional Patent Systems

In addition to the PCT route, several regional patent offices allow a single application to cover multiple countries within that region:

  • European Patent Office (EPO) — A single European patent application can be validated in up to 44 countries. Filed via epo.org.
  • African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) — Covers 20 African member states.
  • Gulf Cooperation Council Patent Office (GCC) — Covers Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Filing Directly in Individual Countries

An applicant can also file directly in the patent office of any country where protection is sought, without using the PCT route. This is generally cost-effective for one or two countries but becomes complex when targeting many jurisdictions simultaneously. Common direct-filing destinations include:

  • United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) — uspto.gov
  • Japan Patent Office (JPO) — jpo.go.jp
  • China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) — english.cnipa.gov.cn

Key consideration: International patent protection requires significant investment — translation costs, national filing fees, and local agent fees can add up quickly. Inventors typically prioritize the markets where commercial activity is most likely, rather than filing everywhere at once.

Copyright

“Copyright (or author’s right) is a legal term used to describe the rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works. Works covered by copyright range from books, music, paintings, sculpture, and films, to computer programs, databases, advertisements, maps, and technical drawings.”

All project documentation and design work created for MediBee automatically belongs to the creator once it is produced.

  • Fusion 360 CAD models
  • KiCad schematics and PCB layouts
  • Embedded firmware and source code
  • Project photographs and videos
  • Fabrication process documentation
  • Website content and graphics

Trademark

“A trademark is a sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one enterprise from those of other enterprises. Trademarks are protected by intellectual property rights.”

A trademark protects names, logos, symbols, or branding elements associated with a product or organization.

The name MediBee functions as the identity and branding of the project. Future branding elements could include a logo, packaging design, interface visuals, and promotional materials.

MediBee is currently an academic prototype and is not registered as an official trademark. However, trademark registration may become relevant if the project evolves into a commercial healthcare product in the future.

Industrial Design

“In a legal sense, an industrial design constitutes the ornamental aspect of an article.” "An industrial design may consist of three dimensional features, such as the shape of an article, or two dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color."

It is a form of intellectual property that protects the visual design of objects that are not purely utilitarian.

Geographical Indications

“A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place."

In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin. Since the qualities depend on the geographical place of production, there is a clear link between the product and its original place of production.

Trade Secrets

“Trade secrets are intellectual property (IP) rights on confidential information which may be sold or licensed."

What qualifies as a trade secret?

In general, to qualify as a trade secret, the information must be:

  • Commercially valuable because it is secret
  • Be known only to a limited group of persons, and
  • Be subject to reasonable steps taken by the rightful holder of the information to keep it secret, including the use of confidentiality agreements for business partners and employees.

The unauthorized acquisition, use or disclosure of such secret information in a manner contrary to honest commercial practices by others is regarded as an unfair practice and a violation of the trade secret protection.

Company Structures in India

Choosing the right business structure is one of the most important decisions when commercializing an invention or product. In India, the structure you choose determines your legal liability, tax obligations, ability to raise funding, and operational complexity.

INDIVIDUAL

Sole Proprietorship

The simplest business form in India, where a single individual owns and operates the business. There is no legal distinction between the owner and the business — they are treated as the same entity. Registration is minimal and typically involves obtaining a GST number, trade licence, or Shop & Establishment Act registration depending on the nature of business.

  • Liability: Unlimited — personal assets can be used to settle business debts
  • Taxation: Business income is taxed as the owner's personal income
  • Compliance: Very low — ideal for freelancers, artisans, and solo inventors at an early stage
  • Limitation: Cannot raise equity funding; credibility lower with banks and large clients
SMALL TEAMS

Partnership Firm

A partnership firm is formed when two or more people agree to share profits and losses of a business. It is governed by the Indian Partnership Act, 1932. A Partnership Deed is drafted defining each partner's roles, profit share, and responsibilities. Registration with the Registrar of Firms is optional but recommended for legal protection.

  • Liability: Unlimited and joint — all partners are personally liable
  • Taxation: The firm is taxed separately; partners are also taxed on their share of income
  • Compliance: Low — minimal regulatory requirements
  • Limitation: Any partner can dissolve the firm; difficult to raise external investment
STARTUPS

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

An LLP combines the flexibility of a partnership with the limited liability protection of a company. Introduced in India through the LLP Act, 2008, it is a popular choice for small startups, consultancies, and professional services. LLPs are registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and require at least two designated partners.

  • Liability: Limited — partners' personal assets are protected; liability is limited to their contribution
  • Taxation: Taxed as a firm; no dividend distribution tax; lower compliance costs than a Pvt Ltd
  • Compliance: Moderate — annual filing of financial statements and annual return with MCA required
  • Limitation: Cannot issue equity shares; not preferred by venture capital or angel investors
SOLO FOUNDER

One Person Company (OPC)

Introduced under the Companies Act, 2013, OPC allows a single individual to incorporate and run a company with full liability protection. The founder is both the sole shareholder and director. A nominee director must be appointed who takes over in case of incapacity or death of the founder. OPCs are registered with the MCA.

  • Liability: Limited — personal assets are protected from business liabilities
  • Taxation: Taxed as a company at a flat corporate rate
  • Compliance: Moderate — annual filing, board meeting records, and audits required
  • Limitation: Must convert to Pvt Ltd once turnover exceeds ₹2 crore or paid-up capital exceeds ₹50 lakh
GROWTH STARTUPS

Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd)

The most preferred structure for scalable, investor-backed startups in India. Incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 and registered with MCA, it requires a minimum of two directors and two shareholders. Shares are not publicly traded. This structure is required to receive funding from most angel investors, venture capital firms, and government startup schemes like Startup India.

  • Liability: Limited to shareholding — personal assets fully protected
  • Taxation: Corporate tax rate applies; can claim startup tax exemptions under Section 80-IAC
  • Compliance: High — statutory audits, board meetings, AGMs, and ROC filings mandatory
  • Advantage: Can issue ESOP to employees, raise equity funding, and attract institutional investors
LARGE BUSINESS

Public Limited Company

A public limited company can offer shares to the general public through a stock exchange, making it the preferred structure for large established businesses seeking wide-scale capital. It requires a minimum of three directors and seven shareholders and is regulated by both the Companies Act, 2013 and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

  • Liability: Limited to shareholding
  • Taxation: Corporate tax applies; subject to additional SEBI disclosure requirements
  • Compliance: Very high — quarterly reporting, SEBI regulations, and public disclosure obligations
  • Advantage: Can raise unlimited capital from public markets through an IPO

Takeaway

Product development extends beyond design and fabrication. Understanding intellectual property, international patent protection, and suitable business structures is important when transforming an idea into a commercially viable product.

License for my project

The CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license used for this project falls under Copyright.

Creative Commons licenses are copyright-based licenses that help creators define how their creative work can be shared, distributed, and reused by others.

Types of Licenses

Different licenses define different rules for how software, documentation, designs, and creative work can be used, modified, and shared. The licenses discussed below range from highly permissive licenses to more restrictive reciprocal licenses.

Permissive Licenses

Permissive licenses are flexible licenses that allow people to freely use, modify, redistribute, and even commercially use the work with very few restrictions.

MIT License

The MIT License is one of the simplest and most commonly used open-source licenses.

BSD License

The BSD License is another permissive license commonly used in academic and networking software projects.

Apache 2.0 License

The Apache License is similar to MIT but includes additional patent protection clauses.

Reciprocal / Copyleft Licenses

Reciprocal licenses allow people to modify and distribute the work, but require modified versions to also remain open-source.

GPL (GNU General Public License)

GPL is a strong copyleft license that requires all modified versions of the software to also be released under the GPL license.

LGPL (Lesser General Public License)

LGPL is a weaker version of GPL mainly used for software libraries.

AGPL (Affero General Public License)

AGPL extends GPL requirements to web and server-based software.

Creative Commons Licenses

Creative Commons licenses are mainly used for creative and educational content such as documentation, images, videos, websites, and design files.

CC BY

CC BY-SA

CC BY-NC

CC BY-ND

CC BY-NC-SA

CC BY-NC-ND

This is the license used for the MediBee project.

License Selection

The Creative Commons license for this project was selected using the official Creative Commons license chooser tool.

After reviewing the available licensing options, I selected the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license because it allows the project to be shared publicly for educational purposes while protecting it from unauthorized commercial use and redistribution of modified versions.

License chooser website:https://creativecommons.org/chooser/

Creative Commons License

Open-Source Licensing

Fab Academy encourages open documentation and collaborative learning. To support this approach, MediBee is shared under the:

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This license includes:

This allows students, makers, and researchers to study and share the project for educational purposes while protecting the original work from unauthorized commercial use or modification.

Why I Chose This License

I chose the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license because I wanted to openly share the project documentation while still protecting the originality of the work.

The license supports educational learning and allows others to study the project, reference the design process, and learn from the documentation.

At the same time, it prevents unauthorized commercial exploitation and redistribution of modified versions without permission. This creates a balance between open knowledge sharing and creator protection.

Rich Text

MediBee © 2026 by Merin Cyriac is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

HTML

MediBee © 2026 by Merin Cyriac is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Dissemination Plan

A dissemination plan defines how MediBee — the pill-shaped automatic pill dispenser — will be shared with the world after Fab Academy. This covers the target audience, sharing channels, licensing constraints, and a path toward future development.

Who Is It For

👴

Elderly Patients

People managing multiple medications who need a reliable, visible reminder that feels pleasant to own.

🏥

Caregivers

Family members or healthcare workers who fill weekly trays for someone else and need a tamper-evident, organised system.

🔧

Makers & Students

Digital fabrication students and hobbyists who want to learn from a documented hardware project combining 3D printing, electronics, and firmware.

🏫

Educational Institutions

Fab Labs and engineering colleges looking for a complete, well-documented project to use as a teaching reference.

Sharing Channels

1

Fab Academy Documentation Site

The primary channel. The complete project documentation — including all design files, firmware, fabrication process, and weekly progress — is publicly available on the Fab Academy student site at fabacademy.org/2026/labs/kochi/students/merin-cyriac. This is the canonical reference for anyone wanting to replicate or learn from the project.

2

GitLab Repository

All source files — Fusion 360 CAD models, KiCad schematics, PCB layouts, and firmware — are hosted on the Fab Academy GitLab instance at gitlab.fabcloud.org/academany/fabacademy/2026/labs/kochi/students/merin-cyriac. This provides version-controlled access to every file and allows anyone to track changes.

3

Instructables / Hackaday

After Fab Academy, a step-by-step build guide will be published on Instructables and/or Hackaday.io. These platforms reach a large maker audience and allow MediBee to be discovered by people who are not part of the Fab Academy network.

What People Can and Cannot Do

MediBee is published under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. This shapes exactly what is and is not possible with the project files and documentation.

Action Allowed? Condition
Read and study the documentation Yes No conditions
Build a personal copy for learning Yes Non-commercial use only
Share the original documentation Yes Attribution required (credit Merin Cyriac)
Use in a classroom or Fab Lab Yes Non-commercial, attribution required
Sell a product based on MediBee No NC clause prohibits commercial use
Publish a modified version publicly No ND clause prohibits redistributing derivatives

Future Development Path

Short term — After Fab Academy

Complete final assembly, test all three rotor discs reliably, film a demo video, and publish the build guide on Instructables. Archive all files with proper README documentation on GitLab.

Medium term — Iteration

Improve the dispensing mechanism reliability, explore a companion mobile app for dose tracking, and refine the enclosure finish for a more product-like feel. Explore presenting at local health-tech or maker events in Kerala.

Long term — Commercial possibility

If a commercial version is pursued, the license would need to be renegotiated and a startup structure considered — likely an OPC or Private Limited Company as described above. A provisional patent application would be worth filing at that stage to protect the dispensing mechanism and rotary disc system.

Summary

MediBee will be shared openly through the Fab Academy documentation site, GitLab, and maker platforms, under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license that keeps it free for educational use while reserving commercial rights. The target audience is the maker and healthcare community. If the project evolves beyond an educational prototype, the IP and business structure choices outlined on this page provide a clear starting point.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
18

Project Development

Project documentation of the Pill Dispenser

View Details