The TRIPS Agreement Article 33 prescribes the MINIMUM term of protection for PATENTS as:
A10 years from the date of filing of the application for the patent
B5 years from the date of grant of the patent, no renewal required
C20 years counted from the date of filing of the application
Dperpetual protection for the lifetime of the inventor as the rule of thumb
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. 20 years counted from the date of filing of the application
1. TRIPS Article 33 (Term of Protection): 'The term of protection available shall not end before the expiration of a period of 20 years counted from the filing date.'
2. This is a minimum standard binding on all WTO Member countries.
3. India's Patents Act 1970 (post-2002 amendment, Section 53) provides exactly 20 years from filing — TRIPS-compliant minimum.
4. Hence option B is correct.
_Source: Patents Act 1970 / Copyright Act 1957 / Trade Marks Act 1999 (Bare Acts, IPIndia portal + Copyright Office) — TRIPS Agreement 1994, Article 33_
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