(c) schemes, rules or methods for doing business, performing purely mental acts or
playing games;
(d) methods for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy, as well
as diagnostic methods practiced on the human or animal body. This provision shall not apply
to products for use in any of those methods.
Patentable inventions
5.—(1) An invention is patentable if it is new, involves an inventive step and is
industrially applicable.
(2) An invention is new if it is not anticipated by prior art.
(3) Prior art shall consist of everything disclosed to the public,
(a) anywhere in the world, by publication in tangible form; or
(b) in Lesotho, by oral disclosure, by use or in any other way,
prior to the filing, or where appropriate, the priority date, of the application claiming the
invention.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), disclosure to the public of the invention shall not
be taken into consideration if it occurred within six months preceding the filing date or, where
applicable, the priority date, of the application, and if it was by reason or in consequence of
acts committed by the applicant or his predecessor in title or of an abuse committed by a third
party with regard to the applicant or his predecessor in title.
(5) An invention shall be considered as involving an inventive step if, having regard to
the prior art relevant to the application claiming the invention, it would not have been obvious
to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
(6) An invention shall be considered industrially applicable if it can be made or used in
any kind of industry.
(7) Industry shall be understood in its broadest sense; it shall cover, in particular,
handicraft, agriculture, fishery, pharmaceuticals and services.
(8) Inventions that are contrary to public order or morality shall not be patentable.
Right to patent; naming of inventor
6.—(1) Subject to this section, the right to a patent shall belong to the inventor.
(2) If two or more persons have jointly made an invention, the right to the patent shall
belong to them jointly.
(3) If and to the extent to which two or more persons have made the same invention
independently of each other, the person whose application has the earliest filing date or, if
LESOTHO
Industrial Property Order, 1989 (Order No. 5 of 1989, as last amended by Act No. 4 of 1997)
[LS 1-001]
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