Source: https://lexisweb.co.uk/si/2007/3201-3300/patents-rules-2007
Timestamp: 2019-08-25 08:17:05
Document Index: 368748037

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'arts\n18', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'arts 1', 'art 6', 'arts 1', 'art 7', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 4', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 8', 'arts 4', 'arts 1', 'art 3', 'art 7', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 9', 'art 7', 'art 7', 'art 7', 'art 1']

Patents Rules 2007 | LexisWeb
Patents Rules 2007 (2007 No 3291)
Specified date: 17 December 2007: see above.
Specified date: 17 December 2007: see r 1.
Intellectual Property Law99 Patents99
3 The declared priority date
3The declared priority date
(1) For the purposes of these Rules the “declared priority date” is the date of filing of the earliest relevant application specified in a declaration made for the purposes of section 5(2) in, or in connection with, an application in suit.
(c) in any other case, when preparations for the application's publication have been completed by the Patent Office.
4Forms and documents
(1) The forms of which the use is required by these Rules are those set out in directions under section 123(2A) and are referred to in these Rules as Patents Forms.
Part 2 Applications for Patents
Applications for PatentsInternational exhibitions5International exhibitions
(1) The statement mentioned in section 2(4)(c) that an invention has been displayed at an international exhibition must be in writing.
6 Declaration of priority for the purposes of section 5(2) (priority date)
Declarations of priority6Declaration of priority for the purposes of section 5(2) (priority date)
(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and rule 7(9), a declaration for the purposes of section 5(2) must be made at the time of filing the application for a patent.
(b) any request made was withdrawn before preparations for the application's publication have been completed by the Patent Office.
7 Request to the comptroller for permission to make a late declaration under section 5(2B)
7Request to the comptroller for permission to make a late declaration under section 5(2B)
(1) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 5(2A)(b) is two months.
8 Filing of priority documents to support a declaration under section 5(2)
8Filing of priority documents to support a declaration under section 5(2)
(1) In respect of each priority application to which this paragraph applies the applicant must, before the end of the relevant period, furnish to the comptroller the application number of that application; otherwise the comptroller must disregard the declaration made for the purposes of section 5(2), in so far as it relates to the priority application.
9 Translation of priority documents
9Translation of priority documents
(1) The comptroller may direct the applicant to comply with the requirements of paragraph (4), if—
10 Mention of the inventor
Mention of the inventor10Mention of the inventor
(1) An inventor or joint inventor of an invention, if not mentioned in any published application for a patent, or in any patent granted, for the invention, must be mentioned in an addendum or an erratum to the application or patent.
Procedure for Application & Grant of Patents94 Intellectual Property Law99 Patents99
11 Waiving the right to be mentioned
11Waiving the right to be mentioned
(1) The inventor may, before preparations for the application's publication have been completed by the Patent Office, apply to the comptroller in writing to waive his right—
(4) Where the comptroller has accepted an inventor's application to make a waiver under this rule, the inventor may apply to the comptroller to end that waiver.
12 Applications for the grant of patents under sections 14 and 15
Form and content of applications12Applications for the grant of patents under sections 14 and 15
13 Biological material and sequence listings
13Biological material and sequence listings
14 Size and presentation of application
14Size and presentation of application
15 The abstract
15The abstract
(1) The abstract must start with a title for the invention.
16 Single inventive concept
16Single inventive concept
(1) For the purposes of the Act, two or more inventions shall be treated as being so linked as to form a single inventive concept where there exists between those inventions a technical relationship which involves one or more of the same or corresponding special technical features.
17 References under section 15(1)(c)(ii)
17References under section 15(1)(c)(ii)
(1) A reference made under section 15(1)(c)(ii) must include—
18 Missing parts
18Missing parts
(1) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 15(5)(b) and (6) is the period beginning with the date of filing of the application for a patent and ending with the date of the preliminary examination.
19 New applications filed as mentioned in section 15(9)
New applications19New applications filed as mentioned in section 15(9)
(1) A new application for a patent may be filed as mentioned in section 15(9)—
20 New applications under sections 8(3), 12(6) and 37(4)
20New applications under sections 8(3), 12(6) and 37(4)
(1) The period prescribed for filing a new application under section 8(3) or section 12(6) is the relevant period.
(a) where the comptroller's decision to make an order under those provisions is not appealed, three months beginning with the date on which the order was made; or
21 Extensions for new applications
21Extensions for new applications
(1) Where a new application is filed—
22 Periods prescribed for the purposes of sections 15(10) and 17(1)
Periods for filing contents of application22Periods prescribed for the purposes of sections 15(10) and 17(1)
(1) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 15(10)(a) and (b)(i) is the relevant period.
23 Preliminary examination under section 15A
Preliminary examination23Preliminary examination under section 15A
(1) On the preliminary examination under section 15A of an application the examiner shall determine whether the application complies with the requirements of rules 6 to 9.
24 Correcting a declaration made for the purposes of section 5(2)
24Correcting a declaration made for the purposes of section 5(2)
(1) Where, on the preliminary examination under section 15A of an application, the examiner finds that a declaration made for the purposes of section 5(2) specifies a date of filing for an earlier relevant application—
25 Formal requirements
25Formal requirements
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the requirements of the following provisions of these Rules are formal requirements—
Publication of application26Publication of application
(1) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 16(1) is eighteen months beginning with—
(2) Where a person's application under rule 11(1)(a) or (b) has been accepted by the comptroller, the comptroller must ensure that the application for the patent as published does not mention that person's name and address as those of the person believed to be the inventor (or, as the case may be, that person's address as that of the person so believed).
27 Search under section 17
Search and substantive examination27Search under section 17
(1) A request under section 17(1)(c)(i) for a search must be made on Patents Form 9A.
(2) The comptroller may, if he thinks fit, send to the applicant a copy of any document (or any part of it) referred to in the examiner's report made under section 17.
28 Request for substantive examination under section 18
28Request for substantive examination under section 18
(1) A request under section 18 for a substantive examination of an application must be made on Patents Form 10.
29 Substantive examination reports
29Substantive examination reports
(1) Whenever the examiner reports to the comptroller under either section 18(3) or (4) on whether the application complies with the requirements of the Act and these Rules, the comptroller must send a copy of that report to the applicant.
(2) The comptroller may, if he thinks fit, send to the applicant a copy of any document (or any part of it) referred to in the examiner's report.
30 Period for putting application in order
30Period for putting application in order
(1) The period prescribed for the purposes of sections 18(4) and 20(1) (failure of application) is the compliance period.
(i) the period specified in paragraph (2) in relation to the earlier application, or
(ii) if it expires later, the period of eighteen months beginning with the initiation date; and
(b) where it is filed as mentioned in section 15(9), the period specified in paragraph (2) in relation to the earlier application.
(4) Where the first observations report is sent to the applicant during the last three months of the period specified in paragraphs (2) or (3), the compliance period is three months beginning with the date on which that report is sent.
31 Amendment of application before grant
31Amendment of application before grant
(1) A request to amend an application for a patent under section 19(1) must be made in writing.
(2) The conditions prescribed under section 19(1) are as follows.
(3) The applicant may amend his application only within the period beginning with the date on which the applicant is informed of the examiner's report under section 17(5) and ending with the date on which the comptroller sends him the first substantive examination report.
(4) But after the end of this period, the applicant may—
(a) where the first substantive examination report states that his application complies with the requirements of the Act and these Rules, amend his application once before the end of the period of two months beginning with the date on which that report was sent; or
(b) where the first substantive examination report states that his application does not comply with the requirements of the Act and these Rules—
(i) amend his application once at the same time as he makes his first observations on, or amendments to, his application under section 18(3), and
(ii) if the first substantive examination report is sent before preparations for the application's publication have been completed by the Patent Office, amend his application prior to any further amendment he may make under sub-paragraph (b)(i).
(5) However, the conditions in paragraphs (3) and (4) do not apply—
(a) where the comptroller consents to the amendment; or
(b) to an amendment of a request for the grant of a patent.
(6) Where the comptroller's consent is required, or the applicant wishes to amend the request for the grant of a patent, the applicant must include the reasons for the amendment.
32 Reinstatement of applications under section 20A
32Reinstatement of applications under section 20A
(1) A request under section 20A for the reinstatement of an application must be made before the end of the relevant period.
(a) two months beginning with the date on which the removal of the cause of non-compliance occurred; or
(b) if it expires earlier, the period of twelve months beginning with the date on which the application was terminated.
(8) The applicant may, before the end of the period of one month beginning with the date of that notification, request to be heard by the comptroller.
33 Observations by third parties on patentability
33Observations by third parties on patentability
(1) The comptroller must send to the applicant a copy of any observations on patentability he receives under section 21.
(2) But paragraph (1) does not apply to any observation which, in the opinion of the comptroller, would—
(a) disparage any person in a way likely to damage such person; or
(b) be generally expected to encourage offensive, immoral or anti-social behaviour.
(3) The comptroller may, if he thinks fit, send to the applicant a copy of any document referred to in the observations.
(4) The comptroller must send to an examiner any observations on patentability.
(5) But paragraph (4) does not apply where the observations are received after the examiner has reported under section 18(4) that an application complies with the requirements of the Act and these Rules.
Part 3 Granted Patents
34 Certificate of grant
Granted PatentsCertificate and amendment34Certificate of grant
The certificate of grant of a patent must be in a form which includes—
(b) the date of filing of the application; and
(c) the number of the patent.
35 Amendment of specification after grant
35Amendment of specification after grant
(1) An application by the proprietor of a patent for the specification of the patent to be amended must—
(b) identify the proposed amendment; and
(c) state the reason for making the amendment.
(2) The application must, if it is reasonably possible, be delivered to the comptroller in electronic form or using electronic communications.
(3) The comptroller may, if he thinks fit, direct the proprietor to file a copy of the specification with the amendment applied for marked on it.
(4) Where the specification of a European patent (UK) was published in a language other than English, the proprietor must file a translation into English of the part of the specification which he is applying to amend and a translation of the amendment.
(5) The comptroller may, if he thinks fit, direct the proprietor to file a translation into English of the specification as published.
(6) Where the court or the comptroller allows the proprietor of a patent to amend the specification of the patent, the comptroller may direct him to file an amended specification which complies with the requirements of schedule 2.
36 Renewal of patents: general
Renewal36Renewal of patents: general
(1) In this rule and in rules 37 to 41—
“renewal date” has the meaning given in rules 37(2) to (4) and 38(3);
“renewal fee” means the fee prescribed in respect of a renewal date;
“renewal period” means the period prescribed by rule 37 or 38 for the payment of a renewal fee.
(2) If the renewal fee is not paid before the end of the renewal period, the patent shall cease to have effect at the end of the renewal date.
(3) Patents Form 12 must be filed before the end of the renewal period.
(4) But where payment is made under section 25(4) or section 28(3), Patents Form 12 must accompany the renewal fee and the prescribed additional fee.
(5) On receipt of the renewal fee the comptroller must issue a certificate of payment.
37 Renewal of patents: first renewal
37Renewal of patents: first renewal
(1) This rule prescribes the period for the payment of a renewal fee in respect of the first renewal date.
(a) the first renewal date is the fourth anniversary of the date of filing; and
(b) the renewal period is three months ending with the last day of the month in which that renewal date falls.
(3) Where a patent is granted under the Act during the period of three months ending with the fourth anniversary of the date of filing, or at any time after that anniversary—
(a) the first renewal date is the last day of the period of three months beginning with the date on which the patent was granted; and
(b) the renewal period begins with the date on which the patent was granted and ends with the last day of the month in which that renewal date falls.
(4) Where the grant of a patent is mentioned in the European Patent Bulletin during the period of three months ending with the fourth anniversary of the date of filing, or at any time after that anniversary—
(a) the first renewal date is the later of—
(i) the last day of the period of three months beginning with the date on which the grant of the patent was mentioned in the European Patent Bulletin (case A), or
(ii) the next anniversary of the date of filing to fall after the date on which the grant of the patent was so mentioned (case B); and
(b) the renewal period is—
(i) in case A, the period beginning with the date on which the grant of the patent was mentioned in the European Patent Bulletin and ending with the last day of the month in which the first renewal date falls, or
(ii) in case B, three months ending with the last day of the month in which the first renewal date falls.
38 Renewal of patents: subsequent renewals
38Renewal of patents: subsequent renewals
(1) This rule prescribes the period for the payment of a renewal fee in respect of renewal dates subsequent to the first renewal date.
(2) The renewal period is three months ending with the last day of the month in which the renewal date falls.
(3) For those purposes—
(a) the second renewal date is the next anniversary of the date of filing to fall after the first renewal date; and
(b) each subsequent renewal date is the anniversary of the previous renewal date.
39 Renewal notice
39Renewal notice
(1) This rule applies where the renewal fee has not been received by the end of the renewal period.
(2) The comptroller must, before the end of the period of six weeks beginning immediately after the end of the renewal period, and if the fee remains unpaid, send a renewal notice to the proprietor of the patent.
(3) The comptroller must send the renewal notice to—
(a) the address specified by the proprietor on payment of the last renewal fee (or to another address that has since been notified to him for that purpose by the proprietor); or
(b) where such an address has not been so specified or notified, the address for service entered in the register.
(4) The renewal notice must remind the proprietor of the patent—
40 Restoration of lapsed patents under section 28
40Restoration of lapsed patents under section 28
(1) An application under section 28 for restoration of a patent may be made at any time before the end of the period ending with the thirteenth month after the month in which the period specified in section 25(4) ends.
(2) The application must be made on Patents Form 16.
(3) The notice of the application must be published in the journal.
(4) The applicant must file evidence in support of the application.
(5) If that evidence does not accompany the application, the comptroller must specify a period within which the evidence shall be filed.
(6) If, on consideration of that evidence, the comptroller is not satisfied that a case for an order under section 28 has been made out, he must notify the applicant accordingly.
(7) The applicant may, before the end of the period of one month beginning with the date of that notification, request to be heard by the comptroller.
(8) If the applicant requests a hearing, the comptroller must give the applicant an opportunity to be heard before he determines whether to grant or refuse the application under section 28.
(9) Where the comptroller grants the application he must advertise the fact in the journal.
41 Notification of lapsed patent
41Notification of lapsed patent
(a) a patent has ceased to have effect because a renewal fee has not been paid by the end of the renewal period; and
(b) the renewal fee and the prescribed additional fee have not been paid by the end of the period specified in section 25(4) (“the extended period”).
(2) The comptroller must, before the end of the period of six weeks beginning immediately after the end of the extended period, send a notice to the proprietor of the patent—
(a) stating that the extended period has expired; and
(b) referring him to the provisions of section 28.
(3) The comptroller must send the notice to the address specified by rule 39(3).
42 Surrender
Surrender and cancelling entry that licences available as of right42Surrender
The notice of an offer by a proprietor to surrender a patent must be in writing and include—
(a) a declaration that no action is pending before the court for infringement or revocation of the patent; or
(b) where such an action is pending, the particulars of the action.
43 Application for, and cancellation of, an entry that licences are available as of right
43Application for, and cancellation of, an entry that licences are available as of right
(1) An application under section 46(1) must be made on Patents Form 28.
(2) Where an entry is made in the register to the effect that licences under a patent are to be available as of right, the comptroller must advertise the entry in the journal.
(3) An application under section 47(1) for the cancellation of an entry made under section 46 must be made on Patents Form 30.
(4) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 47(3) is two months beginning with the date on which the entry was made under section 46.
Part 4 The Register and Other Information
44 Entries in the register
The Register and Other InformationThe Register44Entries in the register
(1) When an application for a patent is published, the comptroller must enter each of the following matters in the register—
(b) the name and address of the person identified as the inventor;
(c) the address of the applicant and his address for service;
(e) the date of filing of the application for a patent;
(f) the application number;
(g) where a declaration has been made for the purposes of section 5(2)—
(iii) the country it was filed in or in respect of; and
(h) the date of the application's publication.
(2) But where a person's application under rule 11(1)(a) or (b) has been accepted by the comptroller, the comptroller may omit from the register his name and address (or, as the case may be, his address) as that of the person believed to be the inventor.
(3) Where an application for a patent has been published, the comptroller must enter each of the following matters in the register as soon as practicable after the event to which they relate—
(a) the date on which a request is made by an applicant for the substantive examination of his application;
(b) the date on which an application is terminated or withdrawn.
(4) When the patent is granted, the comptroller must enter each of the following matters in the register—
(a) the date on which the comptroller granted the patent;
(b) the name of the proprietor of the patent;
(c) where the address of the proprietor or his address for service was not entered in the register under paragraph (1), that address or address for service.
(5) In relation to a request for an opinion under section 74A, the comptroller must enter each of the following matters in the register as soon as practicable after the event to which they relate—
(a) a notice that a request under section 74A(1)(a) or (b) has been received;
(b) a notice that such a request has been refused or withdrawn;
(c) a notice that an opinion has been issued.
(6) A notice of any transaction, instrument or event mentioned in section 32(2)(b) or 33(3) must be entered in the register as soon as practicable after it occurs (or, if later, when the application is published).
(7) The comptroller may, at any time, enter in the register such other particulars as he thinks fit.
Procedure for Application & Grant of Patents95 Intellectual Property Law99 Patents99
45 Advertisement in relation to register
45Advertisement in relation to register
The comptroller may publish or advertise such things done under the Act or these Rules in relation to the register as he thinks fit.
Publishing94 Media & Communications94
46 Copies of entries in, or extracts from, the register and certified facts
46Copies of entries in, or extracts from, the register and certified facts
(1) An application under section 32(6) for a certified copy of an entry in the register, or a certified extract from the register, must be made on Patents Form 23.
(2) A person may apply on Patents Form 23 for an uncertified copy of an entry in the register or an uncertified extract from the register and, on payment of the prescribed fee, he shall be entitled to such a copy or extract.
(3) A person may apply on Patents Form 23 for a certificate which certifies that—
(a) an entry has or has not been made in the register; or
(b) something which the comptroller is authorised to do has or has not been done.
47 Registrations of transactions, instruments and events
47Registrations of transactions, instruments and events
(1) An application to register (or in the case of an application for a patent which has not been published, to give notice of) any transaction, instrument or event mentioned in section 32(2)(b) or 33(3) must—
(a) be made on Patents Form 21; and
(b) include evidence establishing the transaction, instrument or event.
(2) The comptroller may direct that such evidence as he may require in connection with the application shall be sent to him within such period as he may specify.
Copies of documents and corrections in relation to the register48Copies of documents
(1) A person may apply to the comptroller for a certified copy of any relevant document and, on payment of the prescribed fee, he shall be entitled to such a copy.
(2) A person may apply to the comptroller for an uncertified copy of any relevant document and, on payment of the prescribed fee, he shall be entitled to such a copy.
(3) But a person is not entitled to a copy of a relevant document where—
(a) it is not available for inspection under section 118; or
(b) making or providing such a copy would infringe copyright.
(4) For the purposes of this rule a relevant document is any of the following—
(a) an application for a patent which has been published;
(b) a specification of a patent;
(c) any other document, or extract from any such document, kept at the Patent Office.
(5) An application under paragraph (1) or (2) must be made on Patents Form 23.
Copyrights95 Intellectual Property Law95 Patents99
49 Correction of name, address and address for service
49Correction of name, address and address for service
(1) Any person may request that a correction be entered in the register or made to any application or other document filed at the Patent Office in respect of any of the following—
(c) his address for service.
(2) A request under paragraph (1)(a) to correct a name must be made on Patents Form 20.
(3) Any other request under paragraph (1) must be made in writing.
(4) If the comptroller has reasonable doubts about whether he should make the correction—
(a) he must inform the person making the request of the reason for his doubts; and
(b) he may require that person to file evidence in support of the request.
(5) If the comptroller has no doubts (or no longer has doubts) about whether he should make the correction, he must enter the correction in the register or make it to the application or document.
(6) For the purposes of this rule a request for a correction includes a correction made for the purposes of section 117.
50 Request for correction of error
50Request for correction of error
(3) If the comptroller has reasonable doubts about whether there is an error—
(a) he shall inform the person making the request of the reason for his doubts; and
51 Restrictions on inspection of documents
Requests for information or documents51Restrictions on inspection of documents
(1) For the purposes of section 118(1) the prescribed restrictions are those set out in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2) No document may be inspected—
(a) where that document was prepared by the comptroller, an examiner or the Patent Office for internal use only;
(b) where the circumstances specified in section 118(4) exist, before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date of the notification under rule 52(2);
(i) which in the comptroller's opinion disparages any person in a way likely to damage him, or
(3) Unless in a particular case the comptroller otherwise directs, no document may be inspected—
(a) where that document was filed at the Patent Office in connection with an application under section 40(1) or (2) or 41(8);
(i) that document was prepared by the comptroller, an examiner or the Patent Office other than for internal use, and
(d) where that document relates to an international application for a patent and the International Bureau would not be permitted to allow access to that document under the Patent Co-operation Treaty; or
(i) the comptroller has accepted a person's application under rule 11(1)(a) or (b), and
(ii) that person's name and address can be identified from that document as those of the inventor or of the person believed to be the inventor (or, as the case may be, his address can be so identified).
(4) In this rule references to a document include part of a document.
52 Request for information where section 118(4) applies
52Request for information where section 118(4) applies
(1) Where the circumstances specified in section 118(4) exist, a request under section 118(1) must be accompanied by evidence verifying their existence.
(2) The comptroller must notify the applicant for the patent of any request.
(3) The notification must be accompanied by a copy of the request and the accompanying evidence.
(4) The applicant may, before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date of the notification, inform the comptroller that the circumstances specified in section 118(4) do not exist; otherwise the comptroller may treat him as accepting that those circumstances exist.
53 Confidential documents
53Confidential documents
(1) Where a person files a document at the Patent Office or sends it to an examiner or the comptroller, any person may request that the document be treated as a confidential document.
(2) The comptroller must refuse any request where it relates to—
(a) a Patents Form; or
(b) any document filed in connection with a request under section 74A.
(3) A request to treat a document as confidential must—
(a) be made before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which the document was—
(i) filed at the Patent Office, or
(ii) received by the comptroller, an examiner or the Patent Office; and
(b) include reasons for the request.
(4) Where a request has been made under paragraph (1), the document must be treated as confidential until the comptroller refuses that request or gives a direction under paragraph (5).
(5) If it appears to the comptroller that there is good reason for the document to remain confidential, he may direct that the document shall be treated as a confidential document; otherwise he must refuse the request made under paragraph (1).
(6) But where the comptroller believes there is no longer a good reason for the direction under paragraph (5) to continue in force, he must revoke it.
(7) In this rule references to a document include part of a document.
54 Requests for certain information
54Requests for certain information
(1) Where a person requests to be notified of a relevant event, he must use Patents Form 49.
(2) Where a person has made such a request, the comptroller must notify him that the relevant event has occurred as soon as practicable after the event.
(3) But the comptroller shall not give him information or permit him to inspect a document unless he would be entitled to such information or to inspect such a document under section 118.
(4) A request on Patents Form 49 must be for information regarding a single relevant event only.
(5) For the purposes of paragraph (1), in relation to an application for a patent, each of the following is a relevant event—
(d) the application being terminated or withdrawn.
(6) For the purposes of paragraph (1), in relation to a patent, each of the following is a relevant event—
(d) an application being made for the restoration of the patent which has ceased to have effect.
(7) For the purposes of paragraph (1), in relation to a patent or an application for a patent, each of the following is a relevant event—
(c) an application to register a transaction, instrument or event being made under rule 47;
55 Bibliographic information about an unpublished application
55Bibliographic information about an unpublished application
For the purposes of section 118(3)(b) the following bibliographic information is prescribed—
(e) where a declaration has been made for the purposes of section 5(2)—
Part 5 European Patents (UK)
56 Translations of European patents (UK)
European Patents (UK)Translations56Translations of European patents (UK)
(1) A translation into English of either—
(6) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 77(6)(a) is three months beginning with the date on which the grant of the patent was mentioned in the European Patent Bulletin.
(7) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 77(6)(b) is three months beginning with the date of publication, by the European Patent Office, of the specification as amended.
57 Corrected translations
57Corrected translations
(1) A corrected translation filed under section 80(3) must be accompanied by Patents Form 54.
(2) The corrected translation must comply with the requirements set out in Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 2.
(3) Where the corrected translation includes any drawings all annotations in French or German must be replaced with annotations in English.
(4) The corrected translation and Patents Form 54 must be filed in duplicate.
(5) But paragraph (2) does not apply where a translation is delivered in electronic form or using electronic communications.
(6) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 80(3) for payment of the prescribed fee is 14 days beginning with the day the corrected translation is filed.
58 Procedure for making a conversion request under section 81(2)(b)(i)
Conversion requests58Procedure for making a conversion request under section 81(2)(b)(i)
(1) A request under section 81(2)(b)(i) must be—
(b) accompanied by a copy of the notification by the European Patent Office that the application has been deemed to be withdrawn.
(2) When making such a request, a person may also request the comptroller to send—
(a) a copy of his application for a European patent (UK); and
(b) a copy of the request,
to the central industrial property office of any contracting state designated in the application.
(3) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 81(2)(b)(i) is three months beginning with the date of the notification mentioned in paragraph (1)(b).
(4) Where a request has been made under section 81(2)(b)(i), the period prescribed for the purposes of sections 13(2), 15(10)(d) and 81(2)(c) is two months beginning with the date on which the comptroller received that request.
(5) In paragraph (2) “contracting state” means a country which is a party to the European Patent Convention.
59 Procedure for making a conversion request under section 81(2)(b)(ii)
59Procedure for making a conversion request under section 81(2)(b)(ii)
(1) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 81(2)(b)(ii) is twenty months beginning with—
(2) Where a request, transmitted under section 81(2)(b)(ii), has been received by the comptroller, he must notify the applicant accordingly.
(3) Where a request has been transmitted under section 81(2)(b)(ii), the period prescribed for the purposes of sections 13(2), 15(10)(d) and 81(2)(c) is four months beginning with the date of that notification.
60 Request for substantive examination following a direction under section 81
60Request for substantive examination following a direction under section 81
Where an application for a European patent (UK) falls to be treated as an application for a patent under the Act by virtue of a direction under section 81, the period prescribed for the purposes of section 18(1) is two years beginning with—
61 Recognition of patent decision of competent authorities of other states
Obligations to other contracting parties to the European Patent Convention61Recognition of patent decision of competent authorities of other states
(1) Where in proceedings before the comptroller a person seeks recognition of a relevant determination, he must furnish to the comptroller a copy of the determination duly certified by the relevant official of the competent authority.
(2) In paragraph (1) “relevant determination” means the determination of a question to which section 82 applies by the competent authority of a relevant contracting state other than the United Kingdom.
62 Procedure for obtaining evidence for proceedings under the European Patent Convention
62Procedure for obtaining evidence for proceedings under the European Patent Convention
(1) An application to the comptroller for an order under the Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975 as applied by section 92(1) must be—
(b) supported by written evidence;
(c) accompanied by the request as a result of which the application is made, and where appropriate, a translation of the request into English; and
(3) The comptroller may permit an officer of the European Patent Office to attend the hearing and either—
(a) examine the witnesses; or
(b) request the comptroller to put specified questions to the witnesses.
Patent Proceedings92 Intellectual Property Law99 Patents99
63 Communication of information to the European Patent Office
63Communication of information to the European Patent Office
The comptroller may authorise any information in the files of the Patent Office to be communicated to the European Patent Office or to a competent authority of any country which is a party to the European Patent Convention, except where that information cannot be communicated under section 118.
Part 6 International Applications
64 Interpretation relating to international applications
International ApplicationsInterpretation64Interpretation relating to international applications
In this Part the following have the same meaning as they have in the Patent Co-operation Treaty—
“competent receiving Office”;
“International Preliminary Examination Report”;
“International Preliminary Report on Patentability”;
“International Search Report”;
“International Searching Authority”;
“receiving Office”.
65 Filing of international applications at the Patent Office
Filing at the Patent Office65Filing of international applications at the Patent Office
(1) An international application for a patent filed at the Patent Office as a competent receiving Office under the Patent Co-operation Treaty must be filed—
(a) in English or Welsh; and
(b) in triplicate.
(2) Where fewer than three copies of the application are filed, the comptroller may direct the applicant to pay any copying costs.
(3) Where the Patent Office was acting on behalf of the International Bureau as the receiving Office, the comptroller shall only transmit an international application for a patent filed at the Patent Office to the International Bureau and the International Searching Authority after the appropriate fee has been paid.
(4) A request under the treaty for a certified copy of an international application for a patent (including any corrections to that application) filed at the Patent Office as the competent receiving Office must be filed on Patents Form 23.
66 Beginning of national phase
Beginning the national phase, international exhibitions and altered prescribed periods66Beginning of national phase
(1) The prescribed period for the purposes of section 89A(3)(a) and (5)(a) is thirty one months beginning with—
(a) where there is no declared priority date, the date of filing of the application;
(2) But where the applicant has been notified under rule 69(5), the period prescribed for the purposes of section 89A(3)(a) and (5)(a) is three months beginning with the date of the notification.
(3) Where an international application for a patent (UK) has begun the national phase, a request for permission to make a late declaration may be made under section 5(2B) before the end of the period of one month beginning with the date the national phase of the application begins.
67International exhibitions
(1) Paragraph (2) applies where an applicant, on filing an international application for a patent (UK), states in writing to the receiving office that the invention has been displayed at an international exhibition.
(2) The prescribed period for the purposes of section 2(4)(c) is two months beginning with the date on which the national phase begins.
68 Altered prescribed periods
68Altered prescribed periods
(2) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 13(2) is—
(a) the period prescribed by rule 10(3); or
(b) if it expires later, the period of two months beginning with the date on which the national phase begins.
(3) The period prescribed for the purposes of sections 15(10)(c) and (d) and 17(1) is—
(a) the period prescribed by rule 22(2) and (7); or
(4) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 18(1) is—
(a) thirty three months beginning with—
(i) where there is no declared priority date, the date of filing of the application; or
69 Necessary translations under section 89A(3) and (5)
Translations69Necessary translations under section 89A(3) and (5)
(1) A translation is necessary for the purposes of section 89A(3) where any of the following are not in English—
(a) the international application for a patent (UK) as published in accordance with the Patent Co-operation Treaty;
(b) where the information mentioned in paragraph 3(2)(a) and (b) of Schedule 1 (biological material) has been provided, that information.
(2) Where the applicant expressly requests the comptroller to proceed with the national phase before the end of the period prescribed by rule 66(1), the translation must include the request and abstract.
(3) But paragraph (2) does not apply where a copy of the application, as published in accordance with the Patent Co-operation Treaty, is available to the comptroller.
(4) A translation of an amendment is necessary for the purposes of section 89A(5) where any amendment made to the application is not in English and has either been—
(a) published under the Patent Co-operation Treaty; or
(b) annexed to the International Preliminary Examination Report.
(5) At the end of the period prescribed by rule 66(1), the comptroller must notify the applicant that a necessary translation is missing if—
(a) a translation of the application has been filed, but a translation of the amendment has not been filed; or
(b) the information mentioned in paragraph 3(2)(a) and (b) of Schedule 1 (biological material) has been provided, but a translation of that information has not been filed,
and the prescribed fee has been paid.
70 Requirements of necessary translations
70Requirements of necessary translations
(1) This rule applies to translations which are necessary for the purposes of section 89A(3) and (5).
(2) Such a translation is necessary for only that part of the application which is in a language other than English.
(3) Where the application includes a drawing which is annotated, the translation shall include either—
(a) a copy of the original drawing where the original annotations have been replaced by annotations in English; or
(b) a new drawing with the annotations in English.
(4) Where a title has been established for the application by the International Searching Authority, the translation must include that title (and not any title which was included in the application as it was originally filed).
(a) the description of the invention includes a sequence listing; and
(b) the listing complies with the relevant requirements of the Patent Co-operation Treaty,
the translation of the application may exclude a translation of the sequence listing.
(6) This rule applies to translations of amendments as it applies to translations of applications and accordingly references to “application” shall be construed as references to “amendment”.
71 Directions under section 89(3) and (5)
Application deemed withdrawn or filing date refused under the Patent Co-operation Treaty71Directions under section 89(3) and (5)
(1) The applicant may, before the end of the relevant period, make a written request to the comptroller to give a direction under section 89(5).
(2) The applicant may notify the comptroller that the circumstances mentioned in section 89(3) or rule 72 apply to his application.
(3) The request under paragraph (1) must be accompanied by—
(a) a statement of the reasons for the request; and
(b) the fee prescribed for the purposes of section 89A(3).
(4) The relevant period is two months beginning with the date on which—
(a) the International Bureau; or
(b) the receiving Office,
notifies the applicant that his international application for a patent (UK) is refused a filing date under the Patent Co-operation Treaty.
(5) Where the applicant has made a request to the comptroller under paragraph (1), the comptroller may direct the applicant to furnish him with any document, information or evidence within such period as the comptroller may specify.
(6) Where the applicant fails, before the end of the period specified, to comply with a direction given under paragraph (5), the comptroller may treat him as having withdrawn his request.
(7) Where section 89(3) applies or a direction has been given under section 89(5) the comptroller may—
(a) alter any period of time (whether it has already expired or not) specified in the Act or listed in Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 4; and
(b) amend any document kept at the Patent Office in relation to the application,
subject to such conditions as the comptroller may direct.
72 Circumstance prescribed for the purposes of section 89(3)
72Circumstance prescribed for the purposes of section 89(3)
The other circumstance prescribed for the purposes of section 89(3) is where the comptroller determines that, in comparable circumstances in relation to an application under the Act (other than an international application for a patent (UK)), he would have exercised his powers under rule 107 or 108 to prevent the application being treated as withdrawn.
Part 7 Proceedings Heard Before the Comptroller
73 Scope and interpretation
Proceedings Heard Before the ComptrollerIntroductory73Scope and interpretation
(1) This Part applies to the following proceedings heard before the comptroller—
(a) applications, references and requests under the provisions mentioned in Part 1 of Schedule 3;
(b) oppositions under the provisions mentioned in Part 2 of that Schedule.
(2) The rules listed in Part 4 of that Schedule apply to any proceedings heard before the comptroller under the Act.
“claimant” means a person who starts proceedings or is treated as starting proceedings under rule 76(1);
“defendant” means a person who files a counter-statement under rule 77(6) or (8);
“statement of case” means the statement of grounds or the counter-statement and references to a statement of case include part of the statement of case;
“statement of grounds” means a statement filed by the claimant;
“statement of truth” means a statement that the person making the statement believes that the facts stated in a particular document are true; and
“witness statement” means a written statement signed by a person that contains the evidence which that person would be allowed to give orally.
74 Overriding objective
74Overriding objective
(1) The rules in this Part set out a procedural code with the overriding objective of enabling the comptroller to deal with cases justly.
(e) allotting to it an appropriate share of the resources available to the comptroller, while taking into account the need to allot resources to other cases.
(3) The comptroller shall seek to give effect to the overriding objective when he—
(a) exercises any power given to him by this Part; or
(b) interprets any rule in this Part.
(4) The parties are required to help the comptroller to further the overriding objective.
75 Publication of notices
75Publication of notices
The comptroller must advertise in the journal any event to which it is possible to object under any of the provisions mentioned in Part 2 or 3 of Schedule 3, subject to rule 105(5).
76 Starting proceedings
Conduct of hearings76Starting proceedings
(1) Proceedings are started when a person files in duplicate—
(a) the relevant form; and
(b) his statement of grounds.
(2) Any person may give notice of opposition—
(a) in the case of section 75(2), before the end of the period of two weeks beginning with the date of the relevant notice; and
(b) in the case of any of the other provisions mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 3, before the end of the period of four weeks beginning with the date of the relevant notice.
(3) For the purposes of this rule and rule 77—
“relevant form” means—
(a) in relation to applications or requests under the provisions of the Medicinal Products Regulation or the Plant Protection Products Regulation mentioned in Part 1 of Schedule 3, Patents Form SP3;
(b) in relation to applications, references or requests under any other provision mentioned in Part 1 of that Schedule, Patents Form 2; and
(c) in relation to oppositions under the provisions mentioned in Part 2 of that Schedule, Patents Form 15; and
“relevant notice” means the advertisement in the journal mentioned in rule 75.
(4) A statement of grounds must—
(a) include a concise statement of the facts and grounds on which the claimant relies;
(b) in the case of rule 89(5), include the grounds of objection to the draft licence;
(c) where appropriate, include the period or terms of the licence which he believes are reasonable;
(d) specify the remedy which he seeks;
(e) where it accompanies an application under the Compulsory Licensing Regulation, include any information required by that Regulation;
(f) be verified by a statement of truth; and
(g) comply with the requirements of Part 1 of Schedule 2.
77 Notification of the parties
77Notification of the parties
(1) The comptroller must notify the applicant for, or proprietor of, the patent which is the subject matter of the case that proceedings have started.
(2) In addition, the comptroller may notify any persons who appear to him to be likely to have an interest in the case that proceedings have started.
(3) But where a person mentioned in paragraph (1) or (2)—
(a) is the claimant; or
(b) has indicated in writing to the comptroller that he supports the claimant's case,
the comptroller has no duty to notify him.
(4) The comptroller must send the relevant form and the statement of grounds with the notification under paragraph (1) or (2).
(5) In that notification, the comptroller must specify a period within which the persons notified may file a counter-statement.
(6) Any counter-statement must be filed in duplicate before the end of the period specified under paragraph (5).
(7) But paragraphs (5) and (6) do not apply to an opposition under any of the provisions mentioned in Part 3 of Schedule 3.
(8) In such oppositions, any counter-statement must be filed in duplicate before the end of the period of four weeks beginning with the date of the relevant notice.
(a) a person was notified under paragraph (1) or (2); and
(b) that person fails to file a counter-statement under paragraph (6) or (8),
the comptroller shall treat him as supporting the claimant's case.
(10) The period prescribed for the purposes of giving notice to the comptroller under section 47(6) of opposition to cancellation of an entry made under section 46 that licences are available as of right is the period prescribed by paragraph (8).
78 The counter-statement
78The counter-statement
(1) Any counter-statement filed by the defendant must—
(a) state which of the allegations in the statement of grounds he denies;
(b) state which of the allegations he is unable to admit or deny, but which he requires the claimant to prove;
(c) state which of the allegations he admits;
(d) be verified by a statement of truth; and
(e) comply with the requirements of Part 1 of Schedule 2.
(3) A defendant who fails to deal with an allegation in a counter-statement shall be taken to admit that allegation.
(4) But a defendant who—
(b) has set out in his counter-statement the nature of his case in relation to the issue to which the allegation is relevant,
shall be taken to require the allegation to be proved.
79 Copies of documents
79Copies of documents
(1) Where a relevant statement refers to any other document, a copy of that document must accompany the relevant statement.
(2) Where more than one copy of a relevant statement is filed, each copy of the statement must be accompanied by a copy of any document referred to in the statement.
(3) But paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply where—
(a) the relevant statement is sent to the comptroller; and
(b) the document referred to in the relevant statement was published by the comptroller or is kept at the Patent Office.
(4) In this rule “relevant statement” means a witness statement, statement of case, affidavit or statutory declaration.
80 Evidence rounds and the hearing
80Evidence rounds and the hearing
(1) When the defendant files a counter-statement, the comptroller must as soon as practicable—
(a) send the counter-statement to the claimant; and
(b) specify the periods within which evidence may be filed by the claimant and the defendant.
(2) The comptroller may, at any time he thinks fit, give leave to either party to file evidence upon such terms as he thinks fit.
(3) Under this rule, evidence shall only be considered to be filed when—
(a) it has been received by the comptroller; and
(b) it has been sent to all the other parties to the proceedings.
(4) The comptroller must then give the parties an opportunity to be heard.
(5) If any party requests to be heard, the comptroller must send to the parties notice of a date for the hearing.
(6) When the comptroller has decided the matter he must notify all the parties of his decision, including his reasons for making the decision.
81 Alteration of time limits
81Alteration of time limits
(1) The comptroller may extend or shorten (or further extend or shorten) any period of time which has been specified under any provision of this Part.
(2) An extension may be granted under paragraph (1) notwithstanding the period of time specified has expired.
82 General powers of the comptroller in relation to proceedings before him
82General powers of the comptroller in relation to proceedings before him
(1) Except where the Act or these Rules otherwise provide, the comptroller may give such directions as to the management of the proceedings as he thinks fit, and in particular he may—
(a) require a document, information or evidence to be filed;
(b) require a translation of a specification of a patent or application or any other document which is not in English;
(c) require a party or a party's legal representative to attend a hearing;
(e) allow a statement of case to be amended;
(f) stay the whole, or any part, of the proceedings either generally or until a specified date or event;
(h) direct that part of any proceedings be dealt with as separate proceedings; and
(i) direct that the parties attend a case management conference or pre-hearing review.
(2) The comptroller may control the evidence by giving directions as to—
(a) the issues on which he requires evidence;
(b) the nature of the evidence which he requires to decide those issues; and
(c) the way in which the evidence is to be placed before him,
and the comptroller may use his power under this paragraph to exclude evidence which would otherwise be admissible.
(3) When the comptroller gives directions under any provision of this Part, he may—
(a) make them subject to conditions; and
(b) specify the consequence of failure to comply with the directions or a condition.
83 Striking out a statement of case and summary judgment
83Striking out a statement of case and summary judgment
(1) A party may apply to the comptroller for him to strike out a statement of case or to give summary judgment.
(2) If it appears to the comptroller that—
(b) the statement of case is an abuse of process or is otherwise likely to obstruct the just disposal of the proceedings; or
(c) there has been a failure to comply with a section, a rule or a previous direction given by the comptroller,
he may strike out the statement of case.
(3) The comptroller may give summary judgment against a claimant or defendant on the whole of a case or on a particular issue if—
(a) he considers that—
(i) that claimant has no real prospect of succeeding on the case or issue, or
(ii) that defendant has no real prospect of successfully defending the case or issue; and
(b) there is no other compelling reason why the case or issue should be disposed of at a hearing.
Summary Judgment & Strike Out91 Civil Procedure & Administration of Justice91 Litigation Procedure & Practice91
84 Hearings in public
84Hearings in public
(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), any hearing before the comptroller in proceedings relating to an application for a patent, or a patent, shall be held in public.
(2) Any party to the proceedings may apply to the comptroller for a hearing to be held in private.
(3) The comptroller may grant an application under paragraph (2) where—
(a) he considers there is good reason for the hearing to be held in private; and
(b) all the parties to the proceedings have had an opportunity to be heard on the matter,
and where the application is granted the hearing must be held in private.
(4) Any hearing—
(a) of an application under paragraph (2); or
(b) relating to an application for a patent which has not been published,
(5) For the purposes of this rule a reference to a hearing includes any part of a hearing.
85 Security for costs or expenses
Miscellaneous85Security for costs or expenses
(1) The conditions prescribed for the purposes of making an order for security for costs under section 107(4) are that the party against whom the order is made—
(a) is resident outside the United Kingdom, but not resident in—
(i) a Brussels Contracting State,
as defined in section 1(3) of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982;
(b) is a company or other body (whether incorporated inside or outside the United Kingdom) and there is reason to believe that it will be unable to pay another party's costs if ordered to do so;
(2) In relation to proceedings in Scotland, references in this rule to costs are references to expenses.
86 Powers of comptroller to compel attendance of witnesses and production of documents
86Powers of comptroller to compel attendance of witnesses and production of documents
The comptroller shall have the powers of a judge of the High Court (in Scotland, the Court of Session) as regards—
87 Evidence in proceedings before the comptroller
87Evidence in proceedings before the comptroller
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (5), evidence filed under this Part may be given—
(a) by witness statement, statement of case, affidavit, statutory declaration; or
(b) in any other form which would be admissible as evidence in proceedings before the court.
(3) Evidence is to be by witness statement unless the comptroller directs or any enactment requires otherwise.
(4) A witness statement, affidavit or statutory declaration must comply with the requirements of Part 1 of Schedule 2, unless the comptroller otherwise directs.
(5) For the purposes of this Part a statement of truth must be dated and signed by—
(a) in the case of a witness statement, the person making the statement; and
(b) in any other case, the party or his legal representative.
88 Proceedings in Scotland
88Proceedings in Scotland
(1) Where there is more than one party to proceedings, a party to the proceedings may apply to the comptroller to hold proceedings in Scotland.
(2) An application made under paragraph (1) must be granted—
(a) where all the parties consent to the proceedings being held in Scotland; or
(b) where the comptroller considers it appropriate.
(3) A refusal of an application made under paragraph (1) is excepted from the right of appeal conferred by section 97.
89 Proceedings started under section 46(3) by a person other than the proprietor
89Proceedings started under section 46(3) by a person other than the proprietor
(1) An application by a person other than the proprietor to the comptroller under section 46(3)(a) or (b) must be—
(a) made on Patents Form 2; and
(b) accompanied by two copies of the draft of the licence he proposes should be granted.
(2) The comptroller must notify the proprietor of the patent that an application has been made.
(3) The comptroller must send a copy of the draft licence with the notification.
(4) In the notification, the comptroller must specify a period within which the proprietor may file a statement of grounds.
(5) The proprietor must file a statement of grounds in accordance with rule 76(4); otherwise he shall be treated as supporting the applicant's case.
(6) Proceedings shall continue under this Part as if they had been started under rule 76(1) and for those purposes the proprietor shall be “the claimant” and the applicant shall be “the defendant”.
90 Licences following entitlement proceedings
90Licences following entitlement proceedings
(1) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 11(3) and (3A) shall be two months beginning with—
(a) where section 11 is applied by section 12(5), the date on which the order under section 12(1) was made; and
(b) in any other case, the date on which the order under section 8 was made.
(2) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 38(3) shall be two months beginning with the date on which the order mentioned in section 38(2) was made.
91 Period prescribed for applications by employee for compensation
91Period prescribed for applications by employee for compensation
(1) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 40(1) and (2) shall be the period beginning with the date of grant of the patent and ending one year after the patent ceased to have effect.
(2) But if an application for restoration is made under section 28 and—
(a) the application is granted, the period prescribed under paragraph (1) shall continue as if the patent had remained continuously in effect; or
(b) the application is refused, the period prescribed for the purposes of section 40(1) and (2) shall be—
(i) the period prescribed under paragraph (1), or
(ii) if it expires later, the period of six months beginning with the date on which the application was refused.
Part 8 Opinions
OpinionsInterpretation92Interpretation
“request” means, unless the context otherwise requires, a request for an opinion under section 74A;
“requester” means the person who makes that request;
“patent in suit” means the patent to which that request relates;
“patent holder” means the proprietor of that patent and any exclusive licensee of the patent; and
“relevant proceedings” means proceedings (whether pending or concluded) before the comptroller, the court or the European Patent Office.
93 Request for an opinion under section 74A
Request for opinion93Request for an opinion under section 74A
(1) A request must be made on Patents Form 17 and must be accompanied by a copy and a statement setting out fully—
(a) the question upon which an opinion is sought;
(c) any matters of fact which are requested to be taken into account.
(2) The statement must be accompanied by—
(a) the name and address of any persons, of whom the requester is aware, having an interest in that question; and
(b) particulars of any relevant proceedings of which the requester is aware which relate to the patent in suit and which may be relevant to that question.
(3) However, where the requester is acting as an agent in making the request, the persons referred to in paragraph (2)(a) do not include the person for whom the requester is so acting.
(4) The statement shall be accompanied by a copy of any evidence or other document (except a document which has been published by the comptroller or is kept at the Patent Office) which is referred to in the statement.
(5) Each such statement, evidence or other document must be provided in duplicate.
94 Refusal or withdrawal of request
94Refusal or withdrawal of request
(1) The comptroller shall not issue an opinion if—
(a) the request appears to him to be frivolous or vexatious; or
(b) the question upon which the opinion is sought appears to him to have been sufficiently considered in any relevant proceedings.
(2) The comptroller shall not issue an opinion if the requester gives him notice in writing that the request is withdrawn.
(3) If the comptroller intends at any time—
(a) to refuse the request because the condition in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) is satisfied; or
(b) to refuse the request because, in accordance with section 74A(3)(b), he considers it inappropriate in all the circumstances to issue an opinion,
he shall notify the requester accordingly.
95 Notification and advertisement of request
95Notification and advertisement of request
(1) The comptroller must notify each of the following persons of the request (except where the person concerned is the requester)—
(b) any holder of a licence or sub-licence under the patent in suit which has been registered under rule 47;
(c) any person who has made a request in respect of the patent in suit under rule 54 regarding an opinion being requested under rule 93;
(d) any person who is specified under rule 93(2)(a).
(2) In addition, the comptroller may notify of the request any persons who appear to him to be likely to have an interest in the question upon which the opinion is sought.
(3) The comptroller must send a copy of the form and statement filed under rule 93(1) to each person so notified, together with a copy of such other documents filed under rule 93 as he thinks fit.
(4) The comptroller must advertise a request in such manner as he thinks fit.
(5) However, if the request is refused or withdrawn before a notification has been made under paragraph (1)—
(a) the patent holder alone must be notified of the request (and of the fact that it has been refused or withdrawn); and
(b) paragraphs (3) and (4) do not apply.
96 Submission of observations and observations in reply
96Submission of observations and observations in reply
(1) If the request has not been refused or withdrawn, any person may, before the end of the relevant period, file observations on any issue raised by the request.
(2) Such observations may include reasons why the comptroller should refuse the request.
(3) Any person who files observations under paragraph (1) must ensure that, before the end of the relevant period, a copy of those observations is received—
(a) where that person is not the patent holder, by the patent holder; and
(b) by the requester.
(4) A person to whom observations are sent under paragraph (3) may, during the period of two weeks beginning immediately after the end of the relevant period, file observations confined strictly to matters in reply.
(5) Any person who files observations under paragraph (4) must ensure that, within that period of two weeks, a copy of those observations is received—
(a) where that person is the requester, by the patent holder; and
(b) where that person is the patent holder, by the requester.
(6) If it is reasonably possible, the observations filed under this rule and the copies of such observations shall be delivered only in electronic form or using electronic communications.
(7) For the purposes of this rule, the relevant period is four weeks beginning with the date of advertisement under rule 95(4).
97 Issue of the opinion
97Issue of the opinion
(1) After the end of the procedure under rule 96, the comptroller must refer the request to an examiner for the preparation of the opinion.
(2) The comptroller must issue the opinion that has been prepared by sending a copy to—
(b) the patent holder; and
(c) any other person who filed observations under rule 96(1).
98 Review of opinion
Review of opinion98Review of opinion
(1) The patent holder may, before the end of the period of three months beginning with the date on which the opinion is issued, apply to the comptroller for a review of the opinion.
(2) However, such proceedings for a review may not be brought (or if brought may not be continued) if the issue raised by the review has been decided in other relevant proceedings.
(3) The application must be made on Patents Form 2 and be accompanied by a copy and a statement in duplicate setting out the grounds on which the review is sought.
(4) The statement must contain particulars of any relevant proceedings of which the applicant is aware which may be relevant to the question whether the proceedings for a review may be brought or continued.
(5) The application may be made on the following grounds only—
(a) that the opinion wrongly concluded that the patent in suit was invalid, or was invalid to a limited extent; or
(b) that, by reason of its interpretation of the specification of the patent in suit, the opinion wrongly concluded that a particular act did not or would not constitute an infringement of the patent.
99 Procedure on review
99Procedure on review
(1) On receipt of the application, the comptroller must send a copy of the form and statement filed under rule 98 to—
(a) the requester (if different from the applicant); and
(b) any person who filed observations under rule 96.
(2) The comptroller must advertise the application in such manner as he thinks fit.
(3) Before the end of the relevant period, any person may file a statement in support of the application or a counter-statement contesting it (which in either case must be in duplicate), and on so doing shall become a party to the proceedings for a review.
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3) the relevant period is—
(a) four weeks beginning with the date on which the application is advertised under paragraph (2); or
(b) if it expires later, the period of two months beginning with the date on which the opinion is issued under rule 97(2).
(5) The comptroller shall send to the other parties a copy of each statement or counter-statement filed under paragraph (3).
(6) The rules listed in Parts 4 and 5 of Schedule 3 shall apply to the proceedings for a review and for the purposes of rule 83(3)—
(a) a reference to “the claimant” is a reference to the applicant for a review; and
(b) a reference to “the defendant” is a reference to any other party.
100 Outcome of review
100Outcome of review
(1) On completion of the proceedings under rule 99 the comptroller shall either—
(a) set aside the opinion in whole or in part; or
(b) decide that no reason has been shown for the opinion to be set aside.
(2) A decision under paragraph (1)(a) or (b) shall not estop any party to any proceedings from raising any issue regarding the validity or the infringement of the patent.
(3) No appeal under section 97 shall lie from a decision to set aside the opinion under paragraph (1)(a), except where the appeal relates to a part of the opinion that is not set aside.
MiscellaneousAgents and advisers101Agents
(1) Any act required or authorised by the Act or these Rules to be done by or to any person in connection with an application for a patent, or any procedure relating to a patent, may be done by or to an agent authorised by that person orally or in writing—
(a) where an agent is appointed when a person starts or joins any proceeding under the Act, once the comptroller has been notified of his appointment in writing; or
(b) where an agent is appointed after a person has started or joined any proceeding under the Act, once Patents Form 51 has been filed in duplicate.
(2) Where an agent has been authorised under paragraph (1), the comptroller may, in any particular case, require the signature or presence of his principal.
102 Appointing advisers
102Appointing advisers
The comptroller may appoint an adviser to assist him in any proceeding before him and shall settle any question or instructions to be given to the adviser.
103 Address for service
Address for service103Address for service
(1) For the purposes of any proceeding under the Act or these Rules, an address for service must be furnished by—
(a) an applicant for the grant of a patent;
(b) a person who makes any other application, reference or request or gives any notice of opposition under the Act; and
(c) any person opposing such an application, reference, request or notice.
(2) The proprietor of a patent, or any person who has registered any right in or under a patent or application, may furnish an address for service by notifying the comptroller.
(3) Where a person has furnished an address for service under paragraph (1) or (2), he may substitute a new address for service by notifying the comptroller.
(4) An address for service furnished under paragraph (1)(a) or (2) must be an address in the United Kingdom, another EEA State or the Channel Islands.
(5) An address for service furnished under paragraph (1)(b) or (c) must be an address in the United Kingdom, unless in a particular case the comptroller otherwise directs.
104 Failure to furnish an address for service
104Failure to furnish an address for service
(a) a person has failed to furnish an address for service under rule 103(1); and
(b) the comptroller has sufficient information enabling him to contact that person,
the comptroller shall direct that person to furnish an address for service.
(2) Where a direction has been given under paragraph (1), the person directed shall, before the end of the period of two months beginning with the date of the direction, furnish an address for service.
(a) a direction was given under paragraph (1) and the period prescribed by paragraph (2) has expired; or
(b) the comptroller had insufficient information to give a direction under paragraph (1),
(a) in the case of an applicant for the grant of a patent, the application shall be treated as withdrawn;
(b) in the case of a person mentioned in rule 103(1)(b), his application, reference, request or notice of opposition shall be treated as withdrawn; and
(c) in the case of a person mentioned in rule 103(1)(c), he shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the proceedings.
(5) In this rule an “address for service” means an address which complies with the requirements of rule 103(4) or (5).
105 Correction of errors
Corrections and remission of fees105Correction of errors
(1) A request to the comptroller to correct an error or mistake under section 117 must be made in writing and identify the proposed correction.
(2) The comptroller may, if he thinks fit, require the person requesting a correction to produce a copy of the document indicating the correction.
(3) Where the request is to correct a specification of a patent or application, the request shall not be granted unless the correction is obvious (meaning that it is immediately evident that nothing else could have been intended in the original specification).
(4) But paragraph (3) does not apply where the error in the specification of the patent or application is connected to the delivery of the application in electronic form or using electronic communications.
(5) Where the comptroller determines that no person could reasonably object to the correction no advertisement shall be published under rule 75.
(6) Where the comptroller is required to publish a notice under section 117(3), it must be published in the journal.
(7) This rule does not apply to a correction of a name, address or address for service (which may be corrected under rule 49).
106 Remission of fees
106Remission of fees
(1) A person may apply to the comptroller for the remission of a fee.
(2) The comptroller may remit the whole or part of a search fee where—
(a) in relation to an international application for a patent (UK), a copy of the International Search Report (as defined in rule 64) for that application is available to the comptroller; or
(b) a new application for a patent is filed as mentioned in section 15(9) and, in connection with the earlier application, the applicant has already paid the search fee for the invention described in the new application.
(3) The comptroller may remit the whole or part of any fee where—
(a) a person has requested the comptroller or an examiner to do something in accordance with the Act or these Rules; and
(b) the request is withdrawn before it is carried out.
(4) The comptroller may remit the whole or part of the fee payable in respect of a request for an opinion under section 74A where he has refused the request.
(5) Where a supplementary protection certificate lapses or is declared invalid, the comptroller must remit any fee which has been paid in respect of the relevant period.
(6) In paragraph (5) “the relevant period” is the period—
(a) beginning with the next anniversary of the start date following the date the certificate lapsed or was declared invalid; and
(b) ending with the date the certificate would have expired but for its lapse or invalidity.
(7) Any decision of the comptroller under this rule is excepted from the right of appeal conferred by section 97.
107 Correction of irregularities
107Correction of irregularities
(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the comptroller may, if he thinks fit, authorise the rectification of any irregularity of procedure connected with any proceeding or other matter before the comptroller, an examiner or the Patent Office.
(2) Any rectification made under paragraph (1) shall be made—
(a) after giving the parties such notice; and
(3) A period of time specified in the Act or listed in Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 4 (whether it has already expired or not) may be extended under paragraph (1) if, and only if—
108 Extension of time limits
Time limits and delays108Extension of time limits
(a) a request is filed on Patents Form 52;
(b) no previous request has been made under this paragraph; and
(c) that request is filed before the end of the period of two months beginning with the date on which the relevant period of time expired.
(a) a request is filed on Patents Form 52; and
(b) the person making the request has furnished evidence supporting the grounds of the request, except where the comptroller otherwise directs.
(a) each of those requests relate to the same patent or application for a patent; and
(b) the grant of each of those requests would result in the expiry of all the extended periods of time on the same date,
in which case those requests may be combined and made on a single form.
as the comptroller may direct, except that a period of time prescribed by the rules listed in Part 3 of Schedule 4 may be extended (or further extended) for a period of two months only.
109 Extension of time limits specified by comptroller
109Extension of time limits specified by comptroller
(1) A request under section 117B(2) must be—
(b) made before the end of the period prescribed by paragraph (2).
(2) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 117B(3) is two months beginning immediately after the expiry of the period to which section 117B(2) applies.
110 Interrupted days
110Interrupted days
(1) The comptroller may certify any day as an interrupted day where—
(a) there is an event or circumstance causing an interruption in the normal operation of the Patent Office; or
(b) there is a general interruption or subsequent dislocation in the postal services of the United Kingdom.
(2) Any certificate of the comptroller given under paragraph (1) shall be displayed in the Patent Office and advertised in the journal.
(3) The comptroller shall, where the time for doing anything under the Act expires on an interrupted day, extend that time to the next following day not being an interrupted day (or an excluded day).
“excluded day” means a day specified as an excluded day in directions given under section 120; and
111 Delays in communication services
111Delays in communication services
(1) The comptroller shall extend any period of time specified in the Act or these Rules where he is satisfied that the failure to do something under the Act or these Rules was wholly or mainly attributable to a delay in, or failure of, a communication service.
(3) In this rule “communication service” means a service by which documents may be sent and delivered and includes post, electronic communications, and courier.
112 Copies available to the comptroller
Copies available to the comptroller112Copies available to the comptroller
(1) This rule applies where an applicant is not required to file a copy of an application at the Patent Office because that application or a copy of that application is available to the comptroller.
(2) Where this rule applies the comptroller shall make a copy (or further copy) of that application and certify it accordingly.
113 Translations
Translations113Translations
(1) Where any document filed at the Patent Office, or sent to the comptroller, is in a language other than English or Welsh it must be accompanied by a translation into English of that document.
(2) But paragraph (1) does not apply to the following documents—
(a) where the documents filed to initiate an application for a patent include something which is or appears to be a description of the invention, the document containing that thing;
(b) a priority application;
(c) a copy of an application provided under section 15(10)(b)(ii);
(d) a copy of a specification of a European patent (UK) filed in connection with an application by the proprietor to amend the specification;
(e) a copy of an application for a European patent (UK) provided under section 81(2)(b)(ii);
(f) an international application for a patent (UK), where a translation of the application or an amendment to it is a necessary translation;
(g) a document referred to in paragraph (5).
(3) Where more than one copy of the document mentioned in paragraph (1) is filed or sent, a corresponding number of translations shall accompany it.
(4) Where a document to which paragraph (1) applies is not accompanied by a translation, the comptroller may, if he thinks fit, take no further action in relation to that document.
(5) In relation to an international application for a patent (UK), where any document which is in a language other than English or Welsh is—
(a) referred to in an International Search Report or International Preliminary Report on Patentability; or
(b) cited in an International Preliminary Examination Report,
and the relevant report is filed at the Patent Office, the comptroller may direct that a translation into English of that document be filed.
(6) Where a direction is given under paragraph (5) a translation of that document must be filed before the end of the period of two months beginning with the date on which the direction is given; otherwise the comptroller may, if he thinks fit, take no further action in relation to the application.
(7) Subject to rule 82(1)(b), where a patent application or any document related to such application is filed at the Patent Office or sent to the comptroller in Welsh, and is not accompanied by a translation into English, the comptroller must obtain such a translation.
(8) In this rule a reference to a document includes a reference to a part of a document; and in paragraph (5) “International Preliminary Examination Report”, “International Preliminary Report on Patentability” and “International Search Report” and have the same meaning as in rule 64.
114 Translations in proceedings in relation to a European patent (UK)
114Translations in proceedings in relation to a European patent (UK)
(a) proceedings are started before the comptroller in relation to a European patent (UK); and
(b) the specification of that patent was published in French or German,
the person who starts those proceedings shall file at the Patent Office a translation into English of the specification.
(2) But paragraph (1) shall not apply where—
(a) a translation into English of the specification has been filed under section 77(6); or
(b) the comptroller directs that a translation is unnecessary.
(3) Where, in the course of such proceedings, leave is given to amend the specification of the patent, the proprietor shall file at the Patent Office a translation of the amendment into the language in which the specification of the patent was published.
(4) This rule applies to making a request for an opinion under section 74A as it applies to proceedings started before the comptroller.
115 Establishing the accuracy of translations
115Establishing the accuracy of translations
If the comptroller has reasonable doubts about the accuracy of any translation of a document that has been filed at the Patent Office by any person in accordance with the Act or these Rules—
(a) he shall notify that person of the reasons for his doubts; and
(b) he may require that person to furnish evidence to establish that the translation is accurate,
and where that person fails to furnish evidence the comptroller may, if he thinks fit, take no further action in relation to that document.
116 Supplementary protection certificates
Supplementary Protection Certificates116Supplementary protection certificates
(a) a supplementary protection certificate shall be made on Patents Form SP1; and
(b) an extension of the duration of a supplementary protection certificate under Article 8 of the Medicinal Products Regulation shall be made on Patents Form SP4.
(b) where the certificate is granted after the beginning of that period, three months beginning with the date the supplementary protection certificate is granted.
(8) The comptroller must send the notices under this rule to—
(a) the applicant's address for service; and
(b) the address to which a renewal notice would be sent to the proprietor of the basic patent under rule 39(3).
117 The journal
Publications117The journal
The comptroller must publish a journal containing—
(a) particulars of applications for and grants of patents and of other proceedings under the Act;
(b) any directions given under section 120(1) specifying hours of business or excluded days;
(c) any directions under section 123(2A) setting out forms; and
(d) any other information that the comptroller considers to be generally useful or important.
118 Reports of cases
118Reports of cases
The comptroller must make arrangements for the publication of—
(a) reports of cases relating to patents, trade marks, registered designs or design right decided by him; and
(b) reports of cases relating to patents (whether under the Act or otherwise), trade marks, registered designs, copyright and design right decided by any court or body (whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere).
Trademarks99 Design Rights99 Intellectual Property Law99 Patents99
119 Publication and sale of documents
119Publication and sale of documents
The comptroller may arrange for the publication and sale of copies of documents (in particular, specifications of patents and applications for patents) in the Patent Office.
120 Transitional provisions and revocations
Transitional provisions and revocations120Transitional provisions and revocations
(1) Schedule 5 (transitional provisions) shall have effect.
(2) The instruments set out in Schedule 6 (revocations) shall be revoked to the extent specified.
SCHEDULE 1 Biological Material
SCHEDULE 1Biological Material Rule 13(1)
“authorisation certificate” means a certificate issued by the comptroller authorising a depositary institution to make available a sample of biological material;
“Budapest Treaty” means the Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-organisms for the purposes of Patent Procedure signed at Budapest on 28th April 1977, as amended on 26th September 1980, and includes references to the regulations made under that Treaty;
“depositary institution” means an institution which—
“expert” means independent expert;
“first requirement” means the first requirement in paragraph 3;
“international depositary authority” means a depositary institution which has acquired the status of international depositary authority as provided in the Budapest Treaty; and
“second requirement” means the second requirement in paragraph 3.
(1) This paragraph applies where the specification of an application for a patent, or of a patent, for an invention which involves the use of or concerns biological material does not disclose the invention in a manner which is clear enough and complete enough for the invention to be performed by a person skilled in the art.
(2) Where this paragraph applies, the specification is to be treated as disclosing the invention in a manner which is clear enough and complete enough for the invention to be performed by a person skilled in the art, if—
(1) The first requirement is that—
(2) The second requirement is that before the end of the relevant period—
(b) where the biological material was deposited by a person other than the applicant (“the depositor”)—
(3) The relevant period is the first to expire of—
(a) the period of sixteen months—
(i) where there is no declared priority date, beginning with the date of filing of the application; or
(ii) where there is a declared priority date, beginning with that date;
(c) where the applicant was notified under rule 52(2), the period of one month beginning with the date of the notification.
“accession number” means the number given to the deposit by a depositary institution;
“specification” means the specification of an application for a patent.
(1) This paragraph applies when paragraph 7 does not apply.
(6) Where the comptroller grants the request, he must send copies of the request and the certificate (and any form required by the Budapest Treaty) to—
(1) A request made under paragraph 4 or 7 shall include an undertaking by the person making the request—
(3) The undertaking shall cease to have effect—
(4) Where a request is made—
(1) Where the first or the second condition is met (except in relation to Crown use), paragraph 7 applies until the end of the relevant period.
(5) In paragraph 6(1) “the relevant period” is—
(b) where the application is terminated or withdrawn, twenty years beginning with the date of filing.
(1) A request for a sample to be made available to an expert must be made on Patents Form 8 and must include details of the expert.
(4) Before the end of the period of one month beginning with the date on which a copy of Patents Form 8 is sent by the comptroller, the applicant may give notice of his objection to the particular expert, and where he objects the comptroller shall determine the matter.
(6) A copy of Patents Form 8 (and any form required by the Budapest Treaty) and any certificate issued under sub-paragraph (5) must be sent to—
(1) This paragraph applies where the first, second or third circumstance occurs.
(3) The second circumstance is that—
(5) The first requirement and the second requirement shall be treated as having been complied with throughout the relevant period, if and only if—
(a) where the first or second circumstance occurs—
(6) For the purposes of paragraph (5) “the relevant period” is the period beginning when the first, second or third circumstance occurs and ending—
(7) The relevant depositary is—
Procedure for Application & Grant of Patents89 Intellectual Property Law99 Central Government99 Constitutional Law99 Patents99
SCHEDULE 5Transitional Provisions Rule 120(1)
In this Schedule, the “1995 Rules” means the Patents Rules 1995 as they had effect immediately prior to their revocation by these Rules.
Where, in relation to any proceedings under the Act, a period of time prescribed by the 1995 Rules for the purposes of a particular provision of the Act has not expired before the date on which these Rules come into force, that period continues to apply.
Proceedings before the comptroller which commenced before these Rules came into force shall continue in accordance with Part 7 of these Rules, subject to paragraph 2 of this Schedule.
Any document sent to the comptroller by posting it in the United Kingdom before the day these Rules come into force shall be deemed to have been filed at the time when it would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.
(1) This paragraph applies to an application for a patent to which article 20, 21 or 22 of the Regulatory Reform (Patents) Order 2004 applies.
(2) Any reference in these Rules to—
(3) The following provisions do not apply—
(4) In this paragraph “unamended Act” means the Act as it had effect immediately before the Regulatory Reform (Patents) Order 2004 came into effect.
Rule 85 does not apply in respect of proceedings started before 1st October 2005.
(1) This paragraph applies to an application for a patent filed before 7th January 1991 and to a patent granted in pursuance of such application.
(3) In paragraph 2, for the words “involves the use of or concerns biological material” substitute the words “requires for its performance the use of a micro-organism”.
(4) In paragraph 5(3)(b), insert at the beginning the words “in the case of an undertaking given in accordance with paragraph 1(a),” and insert at the end the word “or” followed by:
“(c) in the case of an undertaking given in accordance with paragraph (1)(b), when the patent is granted.”.
(5) Any reference to “biological material”—
(a) in paragraphs 3(1)(a), 4, 5 and 8 is a reference to “culture of the micro-organism”; and
(b) other than in those provisions, is a reference to “micro-organism”.
(6) For the purposes of paragraph 3(2) the relevant period is the period of two months beginning with the date of filing of the application for a patent.
(7) The following provisions do not have effect—
(1) This paragraph applies to an application for a patent filed during the period beginning with 7th January 1991 and ending with 27th July 2000 and to a patent granted in pursuance of such application.
(a) in paragraphs 3(1)(a), 4, 5, 6(3), 7(2) and 8 is a reference to “culture of the micro-organism”; and
(7) In paragraph 6(5)(b), for the words from “the period of 20 years” to the end of that provision substitute “the period ending with the date on which the application was terminated or withdrawn”.
(1) This paragraph and paragraph 10 apply to existing patents and applications.
(2) Rules 4, 58 and 59 of the Patents Rules 1968 continue to apply.
(1) Rules 4, 10(2), 44 to 50, 73 to 88, 101, 103 to 105 and 107 apply to existing patents and applications.
If before 1st January 2005 a question has been referred to the comptroller under section 8 or 12, in relation to that reference, sections 8, 11 and 12 have effect as if the amendments to those sections by the Patents Act 2004 had not been made and rules 9 and 13 of the 1995 Rules have effect as in force immediately before 1st January 2005.
Procedure for Application & Grant of Patents94 International Law91 Intellectual Property Law99 Treaties & International Agreements91 Patents99
SCHEDULE 6Revocations Rule 120(2)
The Patents Rules 1978 (SI 1978/216) Rule 124.
The Patents Rules 1995 (SI 1995/2093) The whole rules.
The Patents (Supplementary Protection Certificates) Rules 1997 (SI 1997/64) The whole rules.
The Patents (Fees) Rules 1998 (SI 1998/1778) The whole rules.
The Patents and Trade Marks (World Trade Organisation) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/1899) Regulations 9 to 12.
The Patents (Amendment) Rules 1999 (SI 1999/1092) The whole rules.
The Patents (Fees) (Amendment) Rules 1999 (1999/1093) The whole rules.
The Patents (Amendment) (No 2) Rules 1999 (SI 1999/3197) The whole rules.
The Patents (Amendment) Rules 2001 (SI 2001/1412) The whole rules.
The Patents (Amendment) Rules 2002 (SI 2002/529) The whole rules.
The Patents (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) Rules 2003 (SI 2003/513) The whole rules.
The Patents Act 2004 (Commencement No 1 and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 2004 (SI 2004/2177) (C 94) Articles 3 to 5.
The Patents (Amendment) Rules 2004 (SI 2004/2358) The whole rules.
The Patents Act 2004 (Commencement No 2 and Consequential, etc and Transitional Provisions) Order 2004 (SI 2004/3205) (C 140) Articles 3 to 8.
The Patents (Translations) Rules 2005 (SI 2005/687) The whole rules.
The Patents (Amendment) Rules 2005 (SI 2005/2496) The whole rules.
The Patents, Trade Marks and Designs (Address For Service and Time Limits, etc) Rules 2006 (SI 2006/760) Rules 4 to 9.
The Patents (Amendment) Rules 2007 (SI 2007/677) The whole rules.
These Rules are made under the Patents Act 1977 (c 37) (“the Act”). They regulate applications for patents and other procedures before the Patent Office in relation to patents. These Rules make substantial changes to both the drafting and effect of the Patents Rules 1995 (SI 1995/2093) which are revoked together with the other instruments listed in Schedule 6 to these Rules.
Part 1 of these Rules includes the commencement and general interpretation provisions.
Part 2 of these Rules includes the provisions relating to applications for patents. In particular, Part 2 includes provisions on international exhibitions (the Convention on International Exhibitions signed in Paris on 22nd November 1928 is published in Cmnd 3776 Treaty Series 9/1931 and is available on the website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office), declarations of priority, mention of the inventor, the form and content of applications, publication of the application, preliminary examination, search and substantive examination. It also includes special provisions on new applications filed under section 8(3), 12(6) or 37(4) or as mentioned in section 15(9) of the Act.
Part 3 of these Rules includes the provisions relating to granted patents. In particular, this Part includes the provisions on the certificate of grant, renewal of the patent and surrender.
Part 4 of these Rules includes the provisions relating to the register and other information. In particular, it sets out the information which must appear on the register and the conditions for inspecting documents under section 118 of the Act. Also rule 54 makes provision for persons to be notified of certain relevant events.
Part 5 of these Rules includes the provisions relating to European patents (UK). In particular, it includes the translation requirements, the procedure for making a conversion request and certain rules relating to the United Kingdom's obligations under the European Patent Convention made in Munich on 5th October 1973 (published in Cmnd 8510 Treaty Series 16/1982 and also available on the website of the European Patent Organisation).
In particular, rule 56(9) and (10) implement Article 1(1) of the Agreement on the application of Article 65 of the Convention on the Grant of European Patents made in London on 17th October 2000. This is known as the London Agreement and is published in Cm 5247 Miscellaneous Series No 9 (2001) and the day the Agreement comes into force will be published by the Patent Office. Rule 56(9) and (10) replaces the Patents (Translations) Rules 2005 (SI 2005/687).
Part 6 of these Rules includes the provisions relating to international applications for a patent (UK). These are made under the Patent Co-operation Treaty signed at Washington on 19th June 1970 (published in Cmnd 7340 Treaty Series 78/1978 and also available on the website of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)). Part 6 of these Rules makes provisions for translations and beginning the national phase, and (for the purposes of these applications) alters periods prescribed elsewhere in the Rules.
Part 7 of these Rules includes provisions governing proceedings heard before the comptroller. In particular rule 74 creates an overriding objective for such proceedings. Rule 76 sets out how a person starts proceedings, and rules 77 and 78 govern how other persons may join those proceedings. Subsequent rules set out requirements for, and powers of the comptroller in relation to, the giving of evidence and the management of proceedings.
Part 8 of these Rules includes provisions on opinions on validity or infringement under section 74A of the 1977 Act. It also sets out the procedure for reviewing such opinions.
Part 9 of these Rules includes miscellaneous provisions, including those on agents, corrections, address for service, translations, extension of periods of time, supplementary protection certificates and publication of documents.
Schedule 1 makes provision for the deposit of biological material. This gives effect to the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-organisms for the purposes of Patent Procedure signed at Budapest on 28th April 1977, as amended on 26th September 1980 (published in Cmnd 8136 Treaty Series 5/1981 and available on the WIPO website).
Schedule 2 contains formal and other requirements.
Schedule 3 contains a list of applications, references, requests and oppositions to which Part 7 applies. It also lists those rules in Part 7 which apply to any proceedings before the comptroller and those rules in Part 7 which apply to proceedings for a review of an opinion.
Part 1 of Schedule 3 includes applications that may be under Community legislation in relation to EU compulsory licences and supplementary protection certificates. The European Parliament and Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 816/2006 of 17 May 2006 on compulsory licensing of patents relating to the manufacture of pharmaceutical products for export to countries with public health problems (OJ No L 157, 9.6.2006, p 1). The European Parliament and Council also adopted Regulation (EC) No 1901/2006 of 12 December 2006 on medicinal products for paediatric use (OJ No L 378, 27.12.2006, p 1). This amends, among other Community instruments, Council Regulation (EEC) No 1768/92 of 18 June 1992 concerning the creation of a supplementary protection certificate for medicinal products (OJ No L 182, 2.7.92, p 1). Provision is also made in relation to Regulation (EC) No 1610/96 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 concerning the creation of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products (OJ No L 198, 8.8.96, p 30).
Schedule 4 relates to the extension of time limits.
Schedule 5 contains transitional provisions.
An impact assessment has been prepared and copies placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Copies are also available from Patents Legal Section, Concept House, Cardiff Road, Newport NP10 8QQ.
Patent Proceedings93 Intellectual Property Law99 EU Internal Market, Economy & Trade94 EU Law Relating to Undertakings94 European Union Law94 Patents99