In an era where technology evolves faster than ever, the boundaries of innovation are constantly shifting. The wave of Industry 4.0—marked by automation, data exchange, and smart manufacturing—has already transformed how businesses operate. Now, Industry 5.0 is emerging, focusing on human–machine collaboration, sustainability, and personalization. In this rapidly changing landscape, inventions increasingly rely on digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), blockchain, and quantum computing.
While these advances open new possibilities, they also raise a recurring question: when does software-led innovation qualify for patent protection?
To address this, the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM) issued the updated Computer Related Inventions (CRI) Guidelines 2025 on June 24, 2025. These Guidelines aim to bring clarity, consistency, and global alignment to the evaluation of inventions involving computer programs, algorithms, and related technologies—ensuring that India’s patent framework keeps pace with the realities of the digital and industrial revolutions.
Purpose of the CRI Guidelines 2025
Key Principles in the CRI Guidelines 2025
The CRI Guidelines 2025 represent a mature and forward-looking step in India’s patent policy. By bridging legal clarity with the practical realities of Industry 4.0 and 5.0, they provide innovators with the confidence to protect genuine technical advancements in a globally competitive environment.
As the digital economy grows in scale and complexity, these Guidelines act as both a compass—guiding innovators toward protectable subject matter—and a catalyst—driving responsible innovation, precise claim drafting, and a globally aligned approach to intellectual property protection.
With the CRI Guidelines 2025 offering clearer pathways for protecting software-led innovation, the challenge ahead is clear—will India’s innovators turn breakthrough ideas into patent-worthy technologies that not only compete globally but set the benchmark for the world to follow?
Ms. Gopi Trivedi, Senior Partner and Head of the Patent Division at Y. J. Trivedi & Co., brings over two decades of expertise encompassing patent-related domains including patent drafting and prosecution, opposition proceedings, advisory, licensing, and valuation along side management aspects. Steering her competent team through all facets of Intellectual Property rights, she actively participates in strategic planning and decision-making, contributing significantly to the firm's success with her multifaceted approach. Her achievements have been recognized with numerous accolades. Most notably, in 2018, under her leadership, Y. J. Trivedi & Co. set a World Record for filing the highest number of patents in a single day, underscoring her exceptional leadership and expertise in the field.
