Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/37/body
Timestamp: 2015-04-26 05:08:01
Document Index: 207648500

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 3', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 6', 'art. 6', 'art. 6', 'art. 7', 'art. 7', 'art. 7', 'art. 9', 'art. 10', 'art. 10', 'art. 19', 'art. 11', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 12', 'art. 13', 'art. 13', 'art. 13', 'art. 13', 'art. 14', 'art. 15', 'art. 15', 'art. 16', 'art. 16', 'art. 17', 'art. 19', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 3', 'art. 5', 'art. 8', 'art. 2', 'art. 18', 'art. 2', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 19', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art. 2', 'art.\n3', 'art. 26']

Skip to main contentSkip to navigationlegislation.gov.ukThe National ArchivesHelpSite MapAccessibilityContact UsCymraegHomeAbout UsBrowse LegislationNew LegislationChanges To LegislationSearch LegislationSearch LegislationTitle: (or keywords in the title)Year:Number:Type:All Legislation (excluding draft)All Primary Legislation UK Public General Acts UK Local Acts Acts of the Scottish Parliament Acts of the National Assembly for Wales Measures of the National Assembly for Wales Church Measures Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly Acts of the Old Scottish Parliament Acts of the English Parliament Acts of the Old Irish Parliament Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain Northern Ireland Orders in Council Measures of the Northern Ireland Assembly Acts of the Northern Ireland ParliamentAll Secondary Legislation UK Statutory Instruments Wales Statutory Instruments Scottish Statutory Instruments Northern Ireland Statutory Rules Church Instruments UK Ministerial Orders UK Statutory Rules and OrdersAll Draft Legislation UK Draft Statutory Instruments Scottish Draft Statutory Instruments Northern Ireland Draft Statutory RulesAll Impact Assessments UK Impact AssessmentsSearchAdvanced SearchPatents Act 1977You are here:1977 c. 37Whole Act without SchedulesTable of ContentsContentMore ResourcesPrevious: IntroductionNext: SchedulePlain ViewPrint OptionsWhat VersionLatest available (Revised)Original (As enacted)Advanced FeaturesShow Geographical Extent(e.g. England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)Show Timeline of ChangesOpening OptionsOpen whole ActOpen Act without schedulesOpen Schedules onlyMore ResourcesOriginal Print PDFView moreStatus:This version of this Act contains provisions that are prospective.StatusThe term provision is used to describe a definable element in a piece of legislation that has legislative effect – such as a Part, Chapter or section. A version of a provision is prospective either:where the provision (Part, Chapter or section) has never come into force or;where the text of the provision is subject to change, but no date has yet been appointed by the appropriate person or body for those changes to come into force.Commencement Orders listed in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ box as not yet applied may bring this prospective version into force.Changes to legislation:There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Patents Act 1977. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.Changes to LegislationRevised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.Changes and effects yet to be applied to :Changes and effectsThis section lists the changes and effects yet to be applied to the specific provision you are viewing.s. 1(1)(d) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 2s. 2(6) repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 3 Sch. 3s. 4(1) words repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 4(a) Sch. 3s. 4(2) repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 4(b) Sch. 3s. 4(3) repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 4(b) Sch. 3s. 5(2) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 3s. 5(5) words substituted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 1(2)s. 5(5)(aa) inserted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 1(1)s. 5(6) omitted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 1(3)s. 8(3)(c) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 6(1)s. 11(3A) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 6(2)s. 11(4) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 6(3)s. 11(5) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 6(4)(a)s. 11(5) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 6(4)(b)s. 12(6)(a) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 5(a)s. 12(6)(c) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 5(b)s. 14(1)(b) and word ceased to have effect by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 4(2)s. 14(1A) inserted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 4(3)s. 14(10) inserted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 4(4)s. 16(1) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 6s. 17 heading substituted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 6(2)s. 17(1) substituted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 6(3)s. 17(2)(3) ceased to have effect by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 6(4)s. 18(1) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 7(2)s. 18(2) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 7(3)s. 18(4) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 7(4)s. 22 heading words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 8(2)s. 22(1) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 8(3)s. 22(5)(a) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 8(3)s. 22(5)(c) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 8(3)s. 22(5)(d) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 8(3)s. 22(6) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 8(3)(b)s. 22(6)(a) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 8(3)(a)s. 23(1) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 7(1)s. 23(1A) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 7(2)s. 23(3A) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 7(3)s. 24(4) inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 9s. 25(3) substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 8(1)s. 25(4) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 8(2)s. 27(6) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 2(1)s. 28(3) substituted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 9s. 28(3) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 8(3)s. 30(6) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 10(2)s. 30(6A) inserted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 10(3)s. 32(2)(ba) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 13(3)s. 32(9) words repealed by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 37 Pt. 6s. 32(11) words repealed by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 37 Pt. 6s. 36(3)(a) (b) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 9s. 37(5) words substituted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 3(1)(a)s. 37(9) words substituted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 3(1)(a)s. 38(3) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 10(2)s. 38(5) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 10(3)s. 40(1) substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 10(1)s. 40(2)(c) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 10(2)s. 41 words substituted by 2007 c. 15 Sch. 13 para. 40s. 41(1) substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 10(3)s. 41(3) words inserted by 2004 c. 8 Sch. 6 para. 5s. 41(4) words repealed by 2004 c. 16 s. 10(4) Sch. 3s. 41(5) words repealed by 2004 c. 16 s. 10(4) Sch. 3s. 41(5)(a) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 10(5)s. 41(9) words substituted by 2013 c. 22 Sch. 9 para. 52s. 41(10) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 11s. 43(5) word substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 10(6)(b)s. 43(5) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 10(6)(a)s. 43(5A) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 10(7)s. 46(3)(d) substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 8(4)(a)s. 46(3B) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 8(4)(b)s. 50A(1)(a) words inserted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 32(2)s. 50A(1)(b) words substituted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 32(3)s. 50A(2)(3) words substituted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 32(3)s. 50A(5) substituted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 32(4)s. 50A(6) words substituted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 32(5)(a)s. 50A(6) words substituted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 32(5)(b)s. 50A(6) words substituted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 32(5)(c)s. 50A(8) inserted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 32(6)s. 51 heading words substituted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 33(5)s. 51(1) words substituted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 33(2)s. 51(3) words substituted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 33(3)s. 51(4) words substituted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 33(4)s. 52(4) words substituted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 4(1)s. 53(1) repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 12 Sch. 3s. 53(2) amended by S.I. 2003/1592 Sch. 4 para. 3(2)s. 53(2) amendment to earlier affecting provision SI 2003/1592 Sch. 4 para. 3(2) by S.I. 2014/891 art. 19(2)s. 53(2) words substituted by S.I. 2014/892 Sch. 1 para. 34s. 56(4)(a)(iiia) and word added by S.I. 2006/1056 Sch. para. 2(b)s. 56(4)(a) (ai) inserted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 6(2)s. 56(4)(a)(ai) words inserted by S.I. 2004/957 Sch. para. 2(a)s. 56(4)(a)(i) words inserted by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 6(3)s. 56(4)(a)(i) words inserted by S.I. 2004/957 Sch. para. 2(b)s. 56(4)(a)(i) words omitted by S.I. 2006/1056 Sch. para. 2(a)s. 56(4)(a)(ii) words inserted by S.I. 2004/957 Sch. para. 2(c)s. 56(4)(a)(ii) words repealed by 2003 c. 43 Sch. 11 para. 6(4) Sch. 14 Pt. 4s. 56(4)(i) words substituted by 2006 c. 43 Sch. 1 para. 58(b)s. 56(4)(iii) words substituted by 2006 c. 43 Sch. 1 para. 58(c)(i)s. 56(4)(iii) words substituted by 2006 c. 43 Sch. 1 para. 58(c)(ii)s. 56(4)(ai) words substituted by 2006 c. 43 Sch. 1 para. 58(a)s. 58(2) words substituted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 4(2)s. 58(6)(a) words in s. 58(6) renumbered as s. 58(6)(a) by 2004 c. 16 s. 2(2)(a)s. 58(6)(b) and word inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 2(2)(a)s. 58(8)(a) words in s. 58(8) renumbered as s. 58(8)(a) by 2004 c. 16 s. 2(2)(b)s. 58(8)(b) and word inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 2(2)(b)s. 58(9A) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 3(2)s. 60(4) repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 13 Sch. 3s. 60(5)(i) inserted by S.I. 2005/2759 reg. 3(a)s. 60(6)(b) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 11s. 60(7) words inserted by S.I. 2005/2759 reg. 3(b)s. 60(7) words substituted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 5s. 61 words substituted by 2007 c. 15 Sch. 13 para. 41s. 61(4)(b) word substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 14s. 61(7) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 11s. 61(7)(a) words substituted by 2013 c. 22 Sch. 9 para. 52s. 62(1) words inserted by 2014 c. 18 s. 15(1)s. 62(1A) inserted by 2014 c. 18 s. 15(2)s. 62(2) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 15s. 62(3) words substituted by S.I. 2006/1028 Sch. 2 para. 2s. 62(3)(a) words in s. 62(3) renumbered as s. 62(3)(a) by 2004 c. 16 s. 2(3) (Amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 2(3) was repealed (29.4.2006) by S.I. 2006/1028, art. 2(4), Sch. 4)s. 62(3)(b) and word inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 2(3) (Amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 2(3) was repealed (29.4.2006) by S.I. 2006/1028, art. 2(4), Sch. 4)s. 63(2) word substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 16s. 63(2) words substituted by S.I. 2006/1028 Sch. 2 para. 3s. 63(3)(a) words in s. 63(3) renumbered as s. 63(3)(a) by 2004 c. 16 s. 2(4) (Amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 2(4) was repealed (29.4.2006) by S.I. 2006/1028, art. 2(4), Sch. 4)s. 63(3)(b) and word inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 2(4) (Amendment not applied to legislation.gov.uk. S. 2(4) was repealed (29.4.2006) by S.I. 2006/1028, art. 2(4), Sch. 4)s. 63(4) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 3(1)s. 68 words inserted by S.I. 2006/1028 Sch. 2 para. 4(b)s. 68 words omitted by S.I. 2006/1028 Sch. 2 para. 4(a)s. 68 words repealed by S.I. 2006/1028 Sch. 4s. 70(2) (2A) substituted for s. 70(2) by 2004 c. 16 s. 12(2)s. 70(3)(c) word substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 17s. 70(4) substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 12(3)s. 70(5) substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 12(4)s. 70(6) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 12(5)s. 72(1) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 18s. 72(1) words repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 18 Sch. 3s. 72(1)(d) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 12s. 72(2)(b) words substituted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 3(1)(b)s. 72(4) words repealed by 2004 c. 16 s. 4 Sch. 3s. 72(4A) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 4s. 74(4)(b) words substituted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 3(2)s. 74(8)(a) words in s. 74(8) renumbered as s. 74(8)(a) by 2004 c. 16 s. 13(2)s. 74(8)(b) and word inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 13(2)s. 75(1) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 19s. 75(5) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 2(5)s. 76(1) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 13(2)s. 76(1A) inserted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 13(3)s. 76(2) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 13(4)s. 76(4) inserted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 13(5)s. 77(5)(a) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 2s. 77(5A) inserted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 6s. 77(6) ceased to have effect by S.I. 2005/687 rule 2 3s. 78(3)(b) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 14s. 78(5A) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 3(2)s. 81(1) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 5(2)s. 81(2)(a) and word repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 5(3)(a) Sch. 3s. 81(2)(b) word substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 5(3)(b)s. 81(2)(c) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 15(2)s. 81(2)(c) word substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 5(3)(c)s. 81(3)(d) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 15(3)s. 86 repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 6 Sch. 3s. 87 repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 6 Sch. 3s. 89(4) repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 7 Sch. 3s. 89B(1)(b) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 16(2)s. 89B(2) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 8s. 89B(5) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 16(3)s. 91(1) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 20s. 93 words substituted by 2007 c. 15 Sch. 13 para. 42s. 93(a) words substituted by 2013 c. 22 Sch. 9 para. 52s. 95(1) words repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 21(a) Sch. 3s. 95(2) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 21(b)s. 97(2) words substituted by 2005 c. 4 Sch. 4 para. 91(2)s. 97(4) inserted by 2005 c. 4 Sch. 4 para. 91(3)s. 102(2A) inserted by 2007 c. 29 Sch. 21 para. 40(a)s. 102(5) substituted by 2007 c. 29 Sch. 21 para. 40(b)s. 102A repealed by 2007 c. 29 Sch. 23s. 102A(1) words substituted by 2005 c. 4 Sch. 11 para. 23(2)s. 102A(2) words substituted by 2005 c. 4 Sch. 11 para. 23(3)s. 102A(3) words inserted by 2005 c. 4 Sch. 4 para. 92(2)s. 102A(7) inserted by 2005 c. 4 Sch. 4 para. 92(3)s. 103 applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2011/2866 Sch. 2s. 103(2) words repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 22 Sch. 3s. 105(2) words repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 22 Sch. 3s. 106 heading words repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 3s. 106 words substituted by 2005 c. 4 Sch. 11 para. 23(4)s. 106(1) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 14(2) (4)s. 106(1A) inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 14(3) (4)s. 107 words substituted by 2007 c. 15 Sch. 13 para. 43s. 107(2) words substituted by 2013 c. 22 Sch. 9 para. 52s. 107(4) substituted by 2004 c. 16 s. 15s. 117(3)(4) inserted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 17(2)s. 118(3)(aa) inserted by 2014 c. 18 s. 18(1)s. 118(3A)(3B) inserted by 2014 c. 18 s. 18(2)s. 118(3C) inserted by 2014 c. 18 s. 18(3)s. 120(1) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 24(2)(a)s. 120(1) words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 24(2)(b)s. 120(3) inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 24(3)s. 121 words repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 25(c) Sch. 3s. 121 words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 25(a)s. 121 words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 25(b)s. 121 words substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 25(d)s. 123(2)(i) substituted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 26(2)s. 123(2A) inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 26(3)s. 123(4) repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 26(4) Sch. 3s. 123(5) repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 26(4) Sch. 3s. 130(1) text amended by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 19s. 130(1) word substituted by 2013 c. 22 Sch. 9 para. 27s. 130(1) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 9(2)(a)s. 130(1) words inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 9(2)(b)s. 130(1) words inserted by S.I. 2003/512 art. 3s. 130(1) words repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 27(a) Sch. 3s. 130(1) words repealed by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 27(b) Sch. 3s. 130(1) words substituted by S.I. 2006/1028 Sch. 2 para. 5(1)s. 130(4A) inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 9(3)s. 130(5A) inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 9(4)s. 130(8) word substituted by S.S.I. 2010/220 Sch. para. 5(b)s. 130(8) words inserted by S.S.I. 2010/220 Sch. para. 5(a)s. 131(f) inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 28Sch. 4 Pt. 1 entry inserted by S.I. 2014/2401 rule 8Sch. 5 para. 5 repealed by 2007 c. 15 Sch. 23 Pt. 6Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:Changes and effectsThis section lists the changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act, associated Parts and Chapters where applicable. This includes any insertions of whole new Parts, Chapters or provisions yet to be inserted into this Act. These effects are included in this view as they may be (but won’t necessarily be) relevant to the specific provision that you are viewing.Act modified by S.I. 2003/1249 art. 2 3 Sch.Act modified (Isle of Man) by S.I. 2013/2602 art. 2 Sch.Blanket Amendment words substituted by 2005 c. 4 Sch. 11 para. 1(2)Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):s. 4A inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 1s. 5(2A)-(2C) inserted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 3s. 15 15A substituted for s. 15 by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 5s. 20A 20B inserted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 8s. 20B(4A) inserted by 2014 c. 18 Sch. para. 2s. 20B(6A) inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 7s. 50A(1)(a) amended by S.I. 2003/1592 Sch. 4 para. 3(1)(a)s. 50A(1)(a) amended by S.I. 2003/1592 Sch. 4 para. 3(1)(b)s. 50A(6) amended by S.I. 2003/1592 Sch. 4 para. 3(1)(c)s. 50A(6) amended by S.I. 2003/1592 Sch. 4 para. 3(1)(d)s. 50A(7) amended by S.I. 2003/1592 Sch. 4 para. 3(1)(e)s. 60(6D)-(6G) inserted by S.I. 2014/1997 art. 2s. 73(1A)-(1C) inserted by 2014 c. 18 s. 16(4)s. 74A 74B and cross-heading inserted by 2004 c. 16 s. 13(1)s. 74A title substituted by 2014 c. 18 s. 16(1)s. 74A(1) words substituted by 2014 c. 18 s. 16(1)s. 74B(2)(c) omitted by 2014 c. 18 s. 16(2)s. 78(6)-(6C) substituted for s. 78(6) by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 3(3)s. 80(4)-(7) substituted for s. 80(4) by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 1 para. 4s. 88A 88B and cross-heading inserted by 2014 c. 18 s. 17s. 117A 117B inserted by S.I. 2004/2357 art. 18s. 117A(7) inserted by 2004 c. 16 Sch. 2 para. 23s. 118A inserted by S.I. 2011/2059 reg. 2s. 118A repealed by S.I. 2014/1385 reg. 3(1)s. 124A inserted by S.I. 2003/512 art. 2s. 124A(1) word substituted by S.I. 2006/1229 art. 4(2)s. 124A(3) words substituted by S.I. 2006/1229 art. 4(3)s. 124A(5) word inserted by S.I. 2006/1229 art. 4(4)(b)s. 124A(5) word substituted by S.I. 2006/1229 art. 4(4)(a)s. 124A(6) word substituted by S.I. 2006/1229 art. 4(5)s. 124A(7) word substituted by S.I. 2006/1229 art. 4(6)s. 124A(9)(10) omitted by S.I. 2006/1229 art. 4(7)s. 124A(12) omitted by S.I. 2006/1229 art. 4(7)s. 124A(13)-(16) substituted for s. 124A(13)-(15) by S.I. 2006/1229 art. 4(8)s. 128A 128B inserted by S.I. 2007/3293 reg. 2(2)s. 128B(2)(a) words substituted by S.I. 2014/2411 reg. 2(2)s. 144(1)(2) amendment to earlier affecting provision SI 2003/1592 Sch. 4 para. 7(1)(a)(b) by S.I. 2014/891 art. 19(3)Sch. 4A inserted by S.I. 2007/3293 reg. 2(3)Sch. 4A para. 8 and cross-heading inserted by S.I. 2014/2411 reg. 2(3)(b)Sch. 4A para. 1(2) words inserted by 2014 c. 18 s. 16(3)Sch. 4A para. 7(a) words substituted by S.I. 2014/2411 reg. 2(3)(a)rule 41A inserted by S.I. 2014/2401 rule 7Commencement Orders yet to be applied to the Patents Act 1977Commencement OrdersThis section lists the commencement orders yet to be applied to the whole Act. These effects are included in this view as they may be (but won’t necessarily be) relevant to the specific provision that you are viewing. Where applicable the commencement orders are listed under two headings, firstly those that bring some part of the Act you are viewing into force and secondly, those that bring into force legislation that affects some part of the legislation you are viewing. If you are viewing a prospective version or there is a prospective version available there may be commencement orders listed here that are relevant to the provision you are viewing.Commencement Orders bringing legislation that affects this Act into force:S.I. 2003/53 art. 2-4 commences (2001 c. 15)S.I. 2003/766 art. 2 Sch. commences (2002 c. 40)S.I. 2003/1397 art. 2(1) Sch. commences (2002 c. 40)S.I. 2003/2093 art. 2 Sch. 1 2 commences (2002 c. 40)S.I. 2004/288 art. 2-6 commences (2003 c. 43)S.I. 2004/480 art. 2-5 commences (2003 c. 43)S.I. 2004/1009 art. 2 commences (2003 c. 43)S.I. 2004/1019 art. 2 commences (2003 c. 43)S.I. 2004/2177 art. 2 commences (2004 c. 16)S.I. 2004/3205 art. 2 commences (2004 c. 16)S.I. 2004/3233 art. 2 Sch. commences (2002 c. 40)S.I. 2004/3255 art. 2 commences (2004 c. 8)S.I. 2005/950 art. 2-4 commences (2003 c. 44)S.I. 2005/2122 art. 2 amendment to earlier commencing SI 2005/950, Sch. 2 para. 23(1)S.I. 2005/2471 art. 2 commences (2004 c. 16)S.I. 2005/2925 art. 2 4-11 commences (2003 c. 43)S.I. 2006/1014 art. 2 Sch. 1 2 commences (2005 c. 4)S.I. 2007/3396 art. 2 commences (2004 c. 16)S.I. 2009/1604 art. 2 commences (2005 c. 4)S.I. 2009/3250 art. 2 commences (2007 c. 29)Part IE+W+S+N.I. New Domestic Law PatentabilityE+W+S+N.I.1 Patentable inventions.E+W+S+N.I.(1)A patent may be granted only for an invention in respect of which the following conditions are satisfied, that is to say—
(b)it involves an inventive step;
(c)it is capable of industrial application;
(d)the grant of a patent for it is not excluded by subsections (2) and (3) below;
and references in this Act to a patentable invention shall be construed accordingly.
(2)It is hereby declared that the following (among other things) are not inventions for the purposes of this Act, that is to say, anything which consists of—
(a)a discovery, scientific theory or mathematical method;
(b)a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work or any other aesthetic creation whatsoever;
(c)a scheme, rule or method for performing a mental act, playing a game or doing business, or a program for a computer;
(d)the presentation of information;
[F1(3)A patent shall not be granted for an invention the commercial exploitation of which would be contrary to public policy or morality.
(4)For the purposes of subsection (3) above exploitation shall not be regarded as contrary to public policy or morality only because it is prohibited by any law in force in the United Kingdom or any part of it.]
(5)The Secretary of State may by order vary the provisions of subsection (2) above for the purpose of maintaining them in conformity with developments in science and technology; and no such order shall be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.
Annotations:Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.Amendments (Textual)F1S. 1(3)(4) substituted (28.7.2000) by S.I. 2000/2037, reg. 32 Novelty.E+W+S+N.I.(1)An invention shall be taken to be new if it does not form part of the state of the art.
(2)The state of the art in the case of an invention shall be taken to comprise all matter (whether a product, a process, information about either, or anything else) which has at any time before the priority date of that invention been made available to the public (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) by written or oral description, by use or in any other way.
(3)The state of the art in the case of an invention to which an application for a patent or a patent relates shall be taken also to comprise matter contained in an application for another patent which was published on or after the priority date of that invention, if the following conditions are satisfied, that is to say—
(b)the priority date of that matter is earlier than that of the invention.
(4)For the purposes of this section the disclosure of matter constituting an invention shall be disregarded in the case of a patent or an application for a patent if occurring later than the beginning of the period of six months immediately preceding the date of filing the application for the patent and either—
(a)the disclosure was due to, or made in consequence of, the matter having been obtained unlawfully or in breach of confidence by any person—
(i)from the inventor or from any other person to whom the matter was made available in confidence by the inventor or who obtained it from the inventor because he or the inventor believed that he was entitled to obtain it; or
(ii)from any other person to whom the matter was made available in confidence by any person mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) above or in this sub-paragraph or who obtained it from any person so mentioned because he or the person from whom he obtained it believed that he was entitled to obtain it;
(b)the disclosure was made in breach of confidence by any person who obtained the matter in confidence from the inventor or from any other person to whom it was made available, or who obtained it, from the inventor; or
(c)the disclosure was due to, or made in consequence of the inventor displaying the invention at an international exhibition and the applicant states, on filing the application, that the invention has been so displayed and also, within the prescribed period, files written evidence in support of the statement complying with any prescribed conditions.
(5)In this section references to the inventor include references to any proprietor of the invention for the time being.
(6)In the case of an invention consisting of a substance or composition for use in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy or of diagnosis practised on the human or animal body, the fact that the substance or composition forms part of the state of the art shall not prevent the invention from being taken to be new if the use of the substance or composition in any such method does not form part of the state of the art.
3 Inventive step.E+W+S+N.I.An invention shall be taken to involve an inventive step if it is not obvious to a person skilled in the art, having regard to any matter which forms part of the state of the art by virtue only of section 2(2) above (and disregarding section 2(3) above).
4 Industrial application.E+W+S+N.I.(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, an invention shall be taken to be capable of industrial application if it can be made or used in any kind of industry, including agriculture.
(2)An invention of a method of treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy or of diagnosis practised on the human or animal body shall not be taken to be capable of industrial application.
(3)Subsection (2) above shall not prevent a product consisting of a substance or composition being treated as capable of industrial application merely because it is invented for use in any such method.
5 Priority date.E+W+S+N.I.(1)For the purposes of this Act the priority date of an invention to which an application for a patent relates and also of any matter (whether or not the same as the invention) contained in any such application is, except as provided by the following provisions of this Act, the date of filing the application.
(2)If in or in connection with an application for a patent (the application in suit) a declaration is made, whether by the applicant or any predecessor in title of his, complying with the relevant requirements of rules and specifying one or more earlier relevant applications for the purposes of this section made by the applicant or a predecessor in title of his and each having a date of filing during the period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of filing the application in suit, then—
(a)if an invention to which the application in suit relates is supported by matter disclosed in the earlier relevant application or applications, the priority date of that invention shall instead of being the date of filing the application in suit be the date of filing the relevant application in which that matter was disclosed, or, if it was disclosed in more than one relevant application, the earliest of them;
(b)the priority date of any matter contained in the application in suit which was also disclosed in the earlier relevant application or applications shall be the date of filing the relevant application in which that matter was disclosed or, if it was disclosed in more than one relevant application, the earliest of them.
(3)Where an invention or other matter contained in the application in suit was also disclosed in two earlier relevant applications filed by the same applicant as in the case of the application in suit or a predecessor in title of his and the second of those relevant applications was specified in or in connection with the application in suit, the second of those relevant applications shall, so far as concerns that invention or matter, be disregarded unless—
(b)not later than the date of filing the second, the first (whether or not so specified) was unconditionally withdrawn, or was abandoned or refused, without—
(i)having been made available to the public (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere);
(ii)leaving any rights outstanding; and
(iii)having served to establish a priority date in relation to another application, wherever made.
(4)The foregoing provisions of this section shall apply for determining the priority date of an invention for which a patent has been granted as they apply for determining the priority date of an invention to which an application for that patent relates.
(5)In this section “relevant application” means any of the following applications which has a date of filing, namely—
(a)an application for a patent under this Act;
(b)an application in or for a convention country (specified under section 90 below) for protection in respect of an invention or an application which, in accordance with the law of a convention country or a treaty or international convention to which a convention country is a party, is equivalent to such an application.
[F2(6)References in subsection (5) above to a convention country include references to a country, other than the United Kingdom, which is a member of the World Trade Organisation.]
Annotations:Annotations are used to give authority for changes and other effects on the legislation you are viewing and to convey editorial information. They appear at the foot of the relevant provision or under the associated heading. Annotations are categorised by annotation type, such as F-notes for textual amendments and I-notes for commencement information (a full list can be found in the Editorial Practice Guide). Each annotation is identified by a sequential reference number. For F-notes, M-notes and X-notes, the number also appears in bold superscript at the relevant location in the text. All annotations contain links to the affecting legislation.Amendments (Textual)F2S. 5(6) inserted (29.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1899, reg. 7Modifications etc. (not altering text)C1S. 5 extended (24.5.2000) by S.I. 2000/1114, art. 26 Disclosure of matter, etc., between earlier and later applications.E+W+S+N.I.(1)It is hereby declared for the avoidance of doubt that where an application (the application in suit) is made for a patent and a declaration is made in accordance with section 5(2) above in or in connection with that application specifying an earlier relevant application, the application in suit and any patent granted in pursuance of it shall not be invalidated by reason only of relevant intervening acts.
“relevant application” has the same meaning as in section 5 above; and
“relevant intervening acts” means acts done in relation to matter disclosed in an earlier relevant application between the dates of the earlier relevant application and the application in suit, as for example, filing another application for the invention for which the earlier relevant application was made, making information available to the public about that invention or that matter or working that invention, but disregarding any application, or the disclosure to the public of matter contained in any application, which is itself to be disregarded for the purposes of section 5(3) above.
Right to apply for and obtain a patent and be mentioned as inventorE+W+S+N.I.7 Right to apply for and obtain a patent.E+W+S+N.I.(1)Any person may make an application for a patent either alone or jointly with another.
(2)A patent for an invention may be granted—
(b)in preference to the foregoing, to any person or persons who, by virtue of any enactment or rule of law, or any foreign law or treaty or international convention, or by virtue of an enforceable term of any agreement entered into with the inventor before the making of the invention, was or were at the time of the making of the invention entitled to the whole of the property in it (other than equitable interests) in the United Kingdom;
(c)in any event, to the successor or successors in title of any person or persons mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above or any person so mentioned and the successor or successors in title of another person so mentioned;
and to no other person.
(3)In this Act “inventor” in relation to an invention means the actual deviser of the invention and “joint inventor” shall be construed accordingly.
(4)Except so far as the contrary is established, a person who makes an application for a patent shall be taken to be the person who is entitled under subsection (2) above to be granted a patent and two or more persons who make such an application jointly shall be taken to be the persons so entitled.
8 Determination before grant of questions about entitlement to patents, etc.E+W+S+N.I.(1)At any time before a patent has been granted for an invention (whether or not an application has been made for it)—
(a)any person may refer to the comptroller the question whether he is entitled to be granted (alone or with any other persons) a patent for that invention or has or would have any right in or under any patent so granted or any application for such a patent; or
(b)any of two or more co-proprietors of an application for a patent for that invention may so refer the question whether any right in or under the application should be transferred or granted to any other person;
and the comptroller shall determine the question and may make such order as he thinks fit to give effect to the determination.
(2)Where a person refers a question relating to an invention under subsection (1)(a) above to the comptroller after an application for a patent for the invention has been filed and before a patent is granted in pursuance of the application, then, unless the application is refused or withdrawn before the reference is disposed of by the comptroller, the comptroller may, without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above and subject to subsection (6) below.—
(a)order that the application shall proceed in the name of that person, either solely or jointly with that of any other applicant, instead of in the name of the applicant or any specified applicant;
(b)where the reference was made by two or more persons, order that the application shall proceed in all their names jointly;
(c)refuse to grant a patent in pursuance of the application or order the application to be amended so as to exclude any of the matter in respect of which the question was referred;