Cabinet backs regulations to widen eligibility for patent associates

Thursday, 29 October 2026 04:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved submitting to Parliament amendment regulations that would allow persons with higher educational qualifications in specific subject areas, such as engineering and science, to be appointed as associates in patent licensing.

The amendments were published in Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2500/15 dated 3 August 2026, and amend Order 58 of the Intellectual Property Regulations No. 01 of 2006. Under the changes, persons holding a first degree in a relevant field, along with other higher educational qualifications, may be appointed as associates in the area of patents.

The Intellectual Property Act No. 36 of 2003 provides the legal basis for the recognition of intellectual property associates and the performance of their duties. It allows for the recognition of lawyers as associates, as well as non-lawyers and corporate bodies.

The Intellectual Property Regulations No. 01 of 2006, published in Gazette Notification No. 1445/10 dated 17 May 2006, empowered the Intellectual Property Director General to formulate administrative procedures for the registration of associates. They also set out the eligibility criteria for non-lawyers who meet the relevant qualifications to be appointed.

The amendment regulations will now be placed before Parliament for approval.

The proposal to this effect was submitted by Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe.