Infringement and validity are dealt with in the same proceedings. Discovery of document forming part of the proceedings, but tends to be less extensive than in the United States. There are normally no depositions.
Proceedings are normally a little slower than France or Germany and more expensive.
Although traditionally claim construction in England tended to be narrower than in other countries, this has changed in recent years. The 1977 law also makes it clear that simple keeping of an infringing material if done for a commercial purpose is an infringement. This fact can be useful in disrupting an infringers distribution scheme if goods pass through the United Kingdom even though they are not produced or used there. In the absence of any condition imposed or the purchaser at the time of sale, importation into the United Kingdom of a product that is the subject of a patent that has been purchased abroad from the patentee is not an infringement of a British patent. As a practical matter, most patent actions in the United Kingdom are brought in London and further discussion will focus on the two London Courts.