Fuelling Patents

For once, the department of science and technology (DST) is proceeding in the right manner in their handling of an unbelievable discovery "" a method that claims to convert water into petrol.

They have kept its inventor, Ramar Pillai, under tight security and are getting all the paperwork going to patent the product in world markets. The DST seems to have finally realised that it is important to get your intellectual property act straightened out before going to town with the discovery.

Ramar Pillai was "discovered" by DST officials about six months ago and they are understood to have been working on his miracle petrol since then. A complete synthesis of his compound has been conducted and the DST believes they have something that resembles diesel in broad properties. They have even used the fuel on internal combustion engines and are "astonished" with the results.

 

If the fuel is indeed what Pillai claims it is, then this is the biggest scientific discovery of this century. The proof will come if and when the DST manages to secure a patent in a western country.

The DST being a bureaucratic organisation, has always treated new discoveries with a certain degree of scepticism. This is perhaps the first time that the DST itself has taken the initiative in patenting the product and protecting the inventor. If at all the DST has erred, it is in announcing the discovery before filing for a patent. World attention has suddenly focussed on Pillai and his miracle herbs, which when added to water, convert it into petrol.

India has always been considered an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)-illiterate country. Indian inventors announce their discoveries to the world before patenting them, give out vital details by publishing papers in scientific journals and lament later when their ideas are converted into marketable products by corporations in foreign countries.

Ramar Pillai's case will certainly be an acid test case for the DST. Given the commercial importance of Pillai's work, patenting in foreign markets won't be easy. The US, in particular, is certain to throw a spanner in the works by accusing India of not living upto its commitment made to the World Trade Organisation on accepting foreign product patents.

Another hurdle will be that

the method has to stand up to scientific scrutiny. At the moment, Pillai's invention seems to defy all laws of physics. Pillai claims to produce petrol out of water without any carbon present in any of the ingredients. Also, the mass of liquid at the end of the boiling process is more than what it was before boiling. The last mentioned has amazed experienced chem-

ists too, as normally a certain quantity of liquid evaporates after boiling. In the absence of a scientific explanation, scientists have been quick to dub it as being

magic or plain fraud.

This could be a another problem, since there is no known case of magic being granted a patent. Normally, patent applications are publicly announced to invite oppositions, if any. Pillai can certainly expect a lot of flak from oil companies, chemical giants and even members of the public, given the incredible nature of his invention.

The DST, one is given to understand, is preparing an iron-clad patent claim. It will not only patent the final product, that is, petrol, but also the various processes and the key ingredients that go to produce the "magic fuel". It is taking adequate precautions and its newly-created cadre of IPR specialists is poring over patent law books in foreign countries.

Even if one or two western nations accept Pillai's patent, it will be a major victory for DST's patenting skills./center>