Exceptions and Limitations of the Rights of patent - Top countries

USA

1. Solely for uses reasonably related to the development and submission of information under the Federal law which regulates the manufacture, use or sale of drugs and veterinary biological products, other than those products primarily manufactured using certain genetic manipulation techniques.
2. Certain uses concerning foreign vessels, aircraft or vehicles which temporarily or accidentally enter national territory.
3. As regards business method patents, continued use by a person who in good faith, had put the invention into practice at least one year before the filing date (priority date) and commercially used it before that date.

Japan

1. Non-commercial use.
2. Use for experiment or research purposes.
3. Vessels and aircraft passing through Japan.
4. Products existing in Japan before the filing date (priority date).
5. Preparation of patented medicines by mixing two or more medicines in accordance with the prescription of physicians or dentists, and medicines so prepared.
6. Non-exclusive license available as of right in the case of prior use or working of the invention prior to the filing date (priority date).
7. Compulsory licenses.

India

1. The grant of a patent is subject to the following conditions:
(a) importation or manufacture of articles and uses of processes by, or on behalf of the Government for its own use;

(b) importation of medicines and drugs by the Government for its own use or for distribution in dispensaries, hospitals or other medical institutions maintained by, on behalf of or specified by the Government;

2. Act of making, constructing, using, selling or importing a patented invention solely for uses reasonably related to the development or submission of information required under any law that regulates the manufacture, construction, use, sale or importation of any product.

3. Importation of patented products from a person who is duly authorized under the law to produce and sell or distribute the product.

4. Compulsory licenses.

United Kingdom

1. Acts which cannot be prevented by the patent owner under provisions of the Community Patent Convention relating to exhaustion of the rights.
2. Private acts for non-commercial purposes.
3. Acts for experimental purposes.
4. Preparation of prescribed medicines in pharmacies, and acts concerning those medicines.
5. Certain uses concerning foreign ships, aircraft, hovercraft or vehicles which temporarily or accidentally enter national territory.
6. Use by farmers of harvested plant propagating material for multiplication or propagation on own holding.
7. Use by farmers of breeding stock or other animal reproductive material for own agricultural activity, but not sale for commercial reproduction.
8. Continued prior use by a person who, in good faith at the filing date (priority date), had used the invention in the United Kingdom, or made effective or serious preparations for that purpose.
9. Exploitation, by a government department or other person authorized by the Secretary of State, in particular for the purposes of defense, medicines, atomic energy, war or other emergency.
10. Compulsory licenses.

China

1. Acts concerning products put on the market in China by, or with knowledge of, the patent owner.
2. Continued prior use by a person who, before the filing date (priority date), used the invention in China, or had made effective and serious preparations for that purpose.
3. Certain uses in respect of foreign means of transport which temporarily enter national territory.
4. Use for scientific research and experimentation purposes.
5. Use or sale of products obtained from a legitimate source but made and sold without authorization of patent owner. 6. Compulsory licenses.