The twenty first century with liberalisation, globalisation and free trade will witness a sea change in the method of research and developement , relevance of process change and reverse engineering.    Especially it is true with third world developing countries like India. Indian  Reserch  and developement  has always been  lagging  when  compared to  advanced nations.  The strategy for chemical reserch and product development for last four decades was to look for development elsewhere.  Due to multitude of intelligentia available with all National  Laboratories , successful  modifications , adaptations  and process  developements were possible .  To site few examples - the process  developments in  the fertiliser  industry, especially Urea process, developement in the refinery industry especially in the  production of Catalysts, in pharamaceutical industries  like  production of Ranitidine , Antibiotics etc.  These  realisations  were  possible  because  there was no product patenting exercises (Only the process patenting was being done)before the advent of GATT and WTO. 

2.  Stipulations of WTO and GATT 

      The important differences and rigidity of Trade releated Intelectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and Indian Patent act - 1970 are briefly out lined and summarised below.

 a)    Nature of Patent:  TRIPS allows product patent in all branches of technology without            discrimination.  IPA-1970 allows only process patent in drugs, foods and pharamaceuticals.

 b)    Patentability :      TRIPS allows patent for any invention in all fields of technology                   including micro organisms and micro biological process, where as IPA 1970 does not allow patenting of any life form or agricultural /  medicinal / surgical products.

 c)    Plant Varieties:     Protected under TRIPS

 d)   Duration: Under TRIPS the duration of patent is 20 years compared to 7 years  for food and pharmaceuticals and 14 years for others.  TRIPS regime  imposes strigent  conditions for patent violations and intelectual piracy.  The onerous of patent violation rests with the persons accused  of trespassing in to intellectual property rights.   The WTO  agreements - India being one of the signatories- came in to effect from  1995.  There was a grace period up to 2000.  Up to 2005 the exclusive   monopoly Rights comes in to operations.  There after all stipulations of  WTO comes in to effect  without any concessions.  Ofcourse there are  redressal mechanisms and dispute clauses available for each country under the general terms of WTO.

3.  Impacts of WTO and GATT on Chemicals Industries.
 

            The  Indian  Chemical  industries  had  been  showing  a  consistent  improvement of about  10% over  the past two decades.  India produces almost all types of chemicals ranging from Ferilisers, Pharamaceuticals , Drugs, Petrochemicals and Paints to consumer chemicals like food, bevarages etc.  For  some  of  the  industrials  products  there  is  an   umbrella  of government  protection  and  subsidy,   effective  import  controlls  and   increse in  the import duty along with anti  dumping  measures  and  administered  pricing  mechanism.    Under obligations to WTO , India has already removed restrictions on free trade from  abroad for 3500 items  and other 950  items would  be  realised by  April 2001.    Astonishingly , apart from essentials , the list is very long including safety pins, razers,  cosmetics , essentials  oils etc.  This will results in such a free flow of materials at a low cost to Indian consumers.  But it will adversely affect the ecnomic vialility of many organised chemicals  sectors.  To  cite few examples, the cost of Titanium Dioxide , which at present is priced at Rs 85/- per Kg is priced at RS. 30/- per Kg  internationally.  Common drugs , Aspirin  which  is RS. 60/-  per Kg is  available  for  RS. 25/- per kg from China.  The price difference  is  predominentialy seen in the cost  of edible oils,  rubbers  and  its  products  etc.   Apart  from  the  impact  on economies , the existing industries if they have to  deversify  in to  newer products,  exclusive lisencing fee have to be paid to the inventors and developers.   In pharamaceutical industry the advent of new drugs for AIDS, Cancer , slow delivery medicines etc. will certianly impose new difficulties to the existing drugs manufactures.

        The industrial scenario requires to be recast.  Survay of  ecnomic viability,  market conditions, consumer preferance and  above all,   modernisation and cost effective method of manufacture become imperative for the   indian industry to survive.  Most of the chemical industries do not have  a  strong  R&D  base   and  futuristic   programmes.    The governmental  fiscal and tax  policies  required  to  be rationalised including the lending and credit debit ratios.  Urgent  refoms on all  the  above  factors  only can  lay competitive road map for the effective and competative survival of indian industries.
 

4. Impact of Patent Regime on Space Chemicals 

        Though  the  problems  and  possible  solutions  outlined  for  chemical  industries are common  to the R&D of space  chemicals and propellants, these materials being strategic in nature,   additional  burdens  are   imposed  on  in  the  form of embargo on export  and  non availability of technologies.  In the last four decades  both ISRO and defence scientists were focussing  their  attention on  the  indegenisation  and  reverse  engineering.   Of course  in certain  areas,  adoption of  existing   technologies  came to   the  rescue  in  realising  their missions.  The absence of product patent helped them to  develop  newer  process  based on the open  literature  and  published  patents.   Since  most  of the   products  are  meant  for internal  consumptions  and  not  for  commercial  exploitation ,  there  were  practically no desputes on patent infringement.  The  scenario  will  change  when  advanced  and  higher energy material are  required to be synthesised in future.  The growth in  technology is so  vast, newer higher energy materials will be produced by the computer simulationof structure of molecules.   The changed scenario will require the  present  researchers to  resort  to more computer simulation , more theoretical computations and  attitude change  ie from being ‘ faith full’ follower of the developements done else where.  Cost effectiveness in items of launch and payload would be the emphasis of the future.   The impact of modern compulsions and present status on space chemicals and propellants will be discussed in the subsequent headings. 

5. Current status and Non Vulnerable Areas. 

   5.1.  Propellants and High Energy Materials: 

               There   is   no constrain   or   concern   on  the  manufacture  and  utilisation  of conventional  high  explosives  used  in  the  production of  small of   arms  and  amunitions.  The wide variety  of  chemicals like  Nitroglycerine,  Nitrocellulose, Nitroguanidine, RDX, HMX, ballpower etc are already in the manufacturing lines of indian ordance factories both under lisence as well as being  declassified  in  nature.  The  present  proposed  patent  laws do not cover  them  as  they  are   time   barred   and   come   under   open    literature   since  the manufacturing     details  and  technologies  are  widely  published.   The  same  logic  is also applicable  to  manufacture  of  propellant -  either  double   base  or  multibase-for  tactical missiles  under  production  in  India .  This  is  true  for  the  small  arms  manufacture  and weapons like torpedoes , gun propellant , etc.  But however further  modernisation,  process improvements  and   adapting   newer    technologies  would   come   under  the  purview  of international lisencing and patent regime.

                Concerning the  space  chemicals and  propellants used in  different  launch vehicle programmes like PSLV and GSLV of ISRO , the scenarrio emerges thus.  The solid propellant system  for our launch  vehicles  is based on  composite  type , containing , HTPB as the polymeric binder ,  ammonium  per  chlorate as  the oxider , aluminium as the  metallic fuel along with additives like plasticisers, burn rate catalysts, anty oxidants etc.   The production of HTPB either by free radical polymerisation or by an ionic  polymerisation is  declassified and the validity of existing patents are time barred.  India has the manufacuring facility for HTPB  production   and   this  area   poses   no  concern.    Similer  is  the  situatiuon  in  the production  of  AP.  All  other  ingredents are  in  commercial  production.   With resepct to present  HTPB  based  work  horse  propellant , there are no international obligations to be met.  Withragard to propellant formulations patent., they will not be binding on the nation for similer reasons.

5.2.  Polymers and Chemicals 

           With respect to different polymers , resins, adhesives, sealants etc used in space Technology - some of them are developed in house and others bought out from thr market.
The technolgies are based on open literature and uncalsssified materials .  The  relevance of patent infringement does not arise.   The  materials  used  for  nozzle fabrication  like silica cloth  or  carbon cloth  also  come  under the  same  catagory.  The  phenolic  resin used  for silicon  phenolic  throat  also have  the same  benefits.  If  ISRO embarks on the programme for indegenisation  of  polyaramide (Kevlar) or carbon  fibers and  subsquent  production of same - which is likely to take another  3-4 years- the  patent  infringement can  be overcome legally.  As such no legal constraints are expected on the present programmes of  PSLV and GSLV.  The  same   situation  is  applicable   to  vital   subsystems  of  liner ,  insulation  and inhibition systems used in solid propellant technologies. 

5.3 Liquid and Cryogenic Propulsion

            With respect to liquid and cryogenic propellants , perse, the oxider and fuels are in the regular manufacturing list whose patent infringements are time barred .  Liquid propellant like UDMH, N204 , MMH, Hydrazene etc are in production line for the last 5 decades in the world.  Production of liquid hydrogen and oxygen are no longer novelties.  However new system development in materials of constructions and material for cryogenic temparatures can attract the stringent requirements of today’s patent regime. 

6.   Challanges in New and Advanced Technologies in Space Chemicals and Propellants

       Consistent and consorted efforts are put in by advanced countries in the developement of new higher energy materials.  Especially  in solid propellant technology , the effort are on to improve the deliverable energy levels by unit mass of the propellant.  The present saturated levels of specific impulse (say 265 secs) of solids propellant will be broken in the next decade by atleast by 20% . In missle technology , fourth generation missiles with low Vulnerability Propellants (LOVA) and Operational Theatre Missiles with precise targets capabilities (both anti missle and detection free)will be replacing the existing system.  To keep abreast with the possible changes, India should devise both long and short term objectives.  Another area of interest will be the re-entry -single stage to orbit (SSTO) - air breathing system.  The polymers , chemicals and propellant required for the same require to be identified and technology required to be developed with in the frame work of patent regime. 

         Thrust is being given by the advanced nations in developing higher energy materials like ammonium dinitramide  (ADN), hydrazenium nitro formate (HNF) , oxetanes like is BAMO & NIMMO  Wurtzitane compounds like CL.20 etc.  Glycidyl Azide polymer (GAP) has already been synthesised and is under production.  Most of the products are already patended and some of them are validated legally up to 2005.  Due to the relaxation in international patents act, the products enjoys patent rights in almost of all countries.  To cite a few patents which are currently in voage, some of the patents are listed in Annexture I.  Through the list is not exhaustive , they are indicative in the sense of wider areas of coverage ranging from solid propellant, grain design, dual pulse motor , processing of solid propellant motors, hybrid motor etc.  The list reveals the meticulousness in registering the novel ideas in the form of patents.  This stands inpoor contrast to patent by Indian Inventors espectually in the field of space chemicals.  There are over 23,000 patents on the subject, compared to less than 100 by indian scientists.   It is imperative to educate Indian inventors , regarding the importance of the present day patent regime.

7. Typical Studies on International Patents 

     In order to highlight the importance and thoroughness in international patent activities, three case histories of importance space chemicals and propellant are briefly studied in the ensuing subheading.  The propellant /chemicals chosen are (1) environmentally friendly propellant based on ammonium nitrate (ii) glycidyl azide polymer and (iii) ammonium dinitramide.

7.1   Phase stabilised Ammonium Nitrate (PSAN)
 

          Over the last 5 decades serious R&D efforts are going on for producing low cost, low smoke environmentally friendly based propellant based on cheap ammonium Nitrarte (AN). AN has the drawback of hygroscopaity and phase transformation at propellant processing temparature , making it as such unfit for propellant processing .  To make it a viable candidate, AN has to be phase stabilised by crystal modification (doping) and reduce its hygroscopocity by suitable surface modifications.  Through ther are more than 150 patents available on this subject , two specific patents ie patents No, US4, 158, 583, dt 19th June 1995 and US patent No 3,171,716,dt 2nd March 1965 (gap of 30 years between these patents) are taken for brief study.  The art of patent writing , presentation and claim to encompass the allied areas had enormously improved.  In both the patents the introduction objectives and the methodologies are elaborate .  The inventions are adequatly illustrated by experimental examples under varrying searches from 1932 to up to date on the relevant field is quoated making a new inventor little room for infringement.  Intereting patents on the subjects are US3,30,179, US No, 34,552, 756 dt Nove .1985 ,US 4, 158,583, etc.  These patents reveal intensive studies done on the subject with respect to both theoretical and experimental conditions. 

7.2. Glycidyl Azide Polymer. 

          GAP is a high energy binder to be used in propellant formulations containing HNF or ADN and other nitramine containing oxidisers like RDX, HMX etc.  Its usefulness has been
demonstrated in low Vulnarable propellants (LOVA) .  The earliest patent on the subject is US 2327053 of 1943.  There more than 20 patents field on this subjects till 1982.  From 1983 to 1990 there have been more than 18 patents.  Foreign patents other than US based ones are many.  One of the latest patent US 5164521 of 17-11-1992 is on the preparations of a polymeric compound- hydroxy terminated - with azide group .  All possible permutations and combinations of HTPB and azide orientations are documented leaving no room for ambiguity, there by signifying the patent as a perfect legal document.  The descriptions of the process are elaborate bringing the orginality and novelty at each process step.  The patent run to 17 pages leaving almost no stone unturned .  The chemistry and all possible chemcials reactions are described, A complete excursion is made on the chemistry of the process involving different routes and different materials .  Finally , legally it becomes untenable for the new inventor to synthsis a new class of GAP without in fringing this patent rights .  As is in the current patent writing a number of experimental methods with examples are illustrated.  The end products are fully characterised .  Some of the patents are still legally valid. 

7.3 Ammonium Di nitramide (ADN) 

           ADN is a new generation advanced oxider for solid propellant capable of replacing Ammonium perchlorate .  Due to high energy content , in combination with high energy binder materials , specific impulse of the propellant can further be increased by another 10% .  Russians  are credited with ADN synthesis and no patents had been filled by Russian of their invention. The first patent on synthesis is based on US 2752225 of June 1956.  But the R&D activities showed a spurt after 1992.  Starting from the US patent US 5198204 (March 93) , there are more than 20 patents on the subject.  One of the latest is U.S. patent no: 5,976,483, dt.  2-11-1999.  The most important point is that most of these patent are valid for at least next  15 years. They come under the legal umbrella of TRIPS & WTO . As characterstics of US patent , these patents are elaborate on technical contents, encompass all possible permutations of chemistry and rawmaterials in the production of  ADN , Potassium dinitramide and propellants based on the same.  Any indegenisation efforts based on this patent require greater  technical diligence.
 

8.  Inference Based on the Case Studies

            When a study of existing Indian patents on propellant chemcials was made , it is observed that Indian inventors and scientists are not exposed properly to both technical and legal requirements of patent under TRIPS and WTO .  The depth of invention , novelty and possible and potetntial expansion of the inventions are not clearly perceptable.  This open wides the weakness during legal disputes, if there is any , on patent infringement .  There is always a reluctance on Indian inventors to patent .  This may be due to organisational or financial constraints and they require to be overcome.   The essence of  protection of intellectual property rights should be properly understood by the scientific community.
 

9. Conclusions

      The new Millenium will witness a change in the manner in which Reserch and Developement management is administered in India.  Reverse engineering and indegenisation of space chemicals and propellant have to be given a second thought.  New invention, synthesis, 
production and harnessing their uses in space technology should be carefully done with out infringing the Intellectual Property Rights.  The technologists and scientists should adopt novel and innovative approch taking both long and short term goals in space technology.

Acknowledgement. 

          Author wishes to place on record the help rendered by Dr. S. Venketachalam, Shri. N. Srinivasan and Shri. R. Muraleekrishanan, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in the preparation of this paper.