Section 105 – THE PATENTS ACT, 1970

(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 licence 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 acknowledgements 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
acknowledgement.
(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 a 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
publication of grant of a patent, and references in this section to the patentee shall be
construed accordingly.