Rules 93-95 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rules 93 to 95 complete Chapter XII, on the Register of Patents. Rule 93 requires the Controller to record each renewal payment and issue a certificate of renewal. Rule 94 lets a patentee ask for an alteration of name, nationality, address or address for service, and to add an additional address for service in India. Rule 95 opens the register to public inspection on payment of fee.
On receipt of the renewal fee, the Controller enters in the register the fact of payment and its date and issues a certificate of renewal (rule 93). A patentee may request in writing, with fee, an alteration of name, nationality, address or address for service, and the Controller may require proof of a change of name or nationality (rule 94(1)); an additional address for service in India may be entered on request with fee (rule 94(3)). The register is open for public inspection during office hours on payment of fees (rule 95).
Where these rules sit
These rules continue the register provisions in rules 88 to 92, which are explained in our article on the register and registration of title and interest. The Act provisions are section 67 (register of patents) and sections 71 and 72 (rectification and inspection); see our guide on sections 71-72 of the Patents Act, 1970.
None of rules 93 to 95 was changed in 2024. The 2024 fee table sets fees for alteration (entry 25), additional address for service (entry 26) and inspection (entry 45).
If your correspondence address has changed, or a firm name has changed after a merger or conversion, the register must be updated or notices may go to the wrong place. For help with register updates and renewals, see our patent renewal service.
Rule 93: entry of renewal fee
"Upon receipt of the payment of the prescribed renewal fee in respect of a patent, the Controller shall enter in the register of patents the fact that the fee has been paid and the date of payment of such fee and issue a certificate of renewal of the patent."
The rule gives the Controller two duties on receipt of payment: enter in the register the fact of payment and its date, and issue a certificate of renewal. It sits next to rule 80(4), under which the Controller credits the renewal fee and issues a certificate that the fee has been paid; see our article on rule 80, renewal fees. The text of rule 93 sets no period for the entry or the certificate. No separate fee is prescribed for the certificate of renewal in rule 93 itself.
Rule 94(1): alteration of name, nationality, address or address for service
"A patentee may make a request in writing along with fee payable to the Controller for the alteration of his name, nationality, address or address for service as entered in the register of patents in respect of any patent granted to him. The Controller may require such proof of the alteration as he may think fit before acting on a request to alter the name or nationality."
- Who: the patentee.
- How: a request in writing to the Controller, with fee.
- What can be altered: name, nationality, address or address for service, as entered in the register for any patent granted to him.
- Proof: the Controller may require proof as he thinks fit before acting on a change of name or nationality. The sentence speaks of proof for name or nationality; it does not mention proof for a change of address, and the text is silent on that.
Rule 94 is limited to the patentee's own entries. A change of ownership is not an "alteration" under this rule: it is a registration of title under section 69 and rules 90 to 92. Form 16 is used for that.
Rule 94(2): the entry is altered
"If the Controller allows a request made under sub-rule (1), he shall cause the entries in the register to be altered accordingly." The word "allows" shows that the Controller decides; the rule gives no period for acting.
Rule 94(3): additional address for service in India
"If a patentee makes a request in writing along with fee payable for entering an additional address for service in India and if the Controller is satisfied that the request should be allowed, he shall have the additional address for service entered in the register."
An additional address means the patentee has more than one address for service. The address must be in India. The Controller must be "satisfied that the request should be allowed". Compare rules 5 and 6, which deal with the address for service in the first place and with serving documents.
Rule 95: inspection of the register
(1) "The register of patents shall be open for public inspection during office hours on payment of the fees specified therefor in the First Schedule."
(2) "When register of patents or any part thereof is in computer floppies, diskettes or any other electronic form the person authorised by the Controller under sub-rule (3) of rule 88 shall provide access to the computer floppies, diskettes or other electronic form or printouts of the records thereof."
Rule 95(1) is the public-inspection rule: any person, during office hours, on payment of the fee. Rule 95(2) deals with an electronic register: access, or printouts of the records, is provided by the person authorised under rule 88(3). The words "floppies, diskettes" are in the printed text. The rule does not say whether remote online inspection is covered; the text is silent.
Fees
Three entries of Table I of the First Schedule as substituted in 2024 attach to these rules. As per the First Schedule as substituted in 2024:
| Entry | Head | Natural person, startup, small entity or educational institution (e-filing / physical) | Others (e-filing / physical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Alteration of an entry in the register of patents or register of patent agents under rule 94(1) or rule 118(1) | Rs 320 / Rs 350 | Rs 1,600 / Rs 1,750 |
| 26 | Request for entry of an additional address for service in the Register of Patents under rule 94(3) | Rs 800 / Rs 880 | Rs 4,000 / Rs 4,400 |
| 45 | Request for inspection of register under section 72, inspection under rule 27 or rule 74A | Rs 320 / Rs 350 | Rs 1,600 / Rs 1,750 |
All three heads are allowed in both modes. Rule 93 has no fee of its own; the renewal fee is entry 18 and is explained in the article on rule 80. Entry 45 names inspection "of register under section 72", which is the head that applies to the inspection in rule 95(1).
At a glance
| Rule | What it does | Who acts | Fee entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | Records payment of renewal fee and its date; issues certificate of renewal | Controller | Entry 18 (renewal fee) |
| 94(1)-(2) | Alters name, nationality, address or address for service on written request | Patentee requests; Controller alters | 25 |
| 94(3) | Enters an additional address for service in India | Patentee requests; Controller if satisfied | 26 |
| 95(1) | Register open to public inspection in office hours | Any person | 45 |
| 95(2) | Access or printouts of an electronic register | Person authorised under rule 88(3) | 45 |
Practical example
Shreya's company, Arka Materials Pvt Ltd, changes its registered office and, around the same time, changes its name to Arka Advanced Materials Pvt Ltd. It has two patents on the register. It writes to the Controller for each patent, requesting alteration of name and address, and pays the entry 25 fee for each request in the column for "others", as per the First Schedule as substituted in 2024. The Controller may ask for proof of the change of name, such as the document recording it. When the Controller allows the request, the register entries are altered. The company also wants notices to reach its Delhi agent as well as its head office, so it requests an additional address for service in India under rule 94(3), paying the entry 26 fee. A competitor later asks to inspect the register in office hours on payment of the entry 45 fee.
Practical points
- Update the register whenever the name or address changes; the register is what the Patent Office uses.
- Make the request in writing, pay the fee and keep proof, such as the document for a change of name.
- Use rule 94(3) when you need a second address for service in India.
- Do not use rule 94 for a change of owner: use Form 16 under rule 90.
- Keep the certificate of renewal on file as proof of payment.
- Check the portal and later amendments for forms and fees.
Need help keeping the register up to date?
Small register errors lead to missed notices, and missed notices lead to lapsed rights. TaxClue can handle alteration requests, additional addresses for service and renewals across a portfolio; see our patent renewal service.
Key takeaways
- Rule 93: on receipt of the renewal fee the Controller enters the payment and its date and issues a certificate of renewal.
- Rule 94: a patentee may request alteration of name, nationality, address or address for service, and an additional address for service in India, in writing with fee; proof may be required for name or nationality.
- Rule 95: the register is open to public inspection in office hours on payment of fees; electronic access is through the authorised person.
- Fees: entry 25 (Rs 320 or Rs 1,600), entry 26 (Rs 800 or Rs 4,000) and entry 45 (Rs 320 or Rs 1,600) in e-filing.
- Later amendments should be checked.
Read next
- Rule 88-92: register of patents and registration of title and interest
- Sections 71-72 of the Patents Act, 1970: rectification of the register and inspection
- Rule 80: renewal fees
- Rule 96-97: application for compulsory licence and prima facie case
Disclaimer: Based on the Patents Rules, 2003 as consolidated up to 21 September 2021 and as amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024 and the Patents (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024, as consulted on 2 October 2026. Later amendment rules, forms and fees should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.