UK Patent Office

An introduction to the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO), also known as the UK Patent Office.

Guide to dealing with the UK IPO - The UK Patent Office

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO), also known as the Patent Office, is the only organisation that can grant a patent in the UK. This page summarises what they do and the key information you need to know about how they operate.

The UK IPO is responsible for the granting and maintaining of patents. However it also is responsible for registered designs, copyright and trademarks. This additional forms of IP protection can be read about here: Other ways of protecting your Intellectual Property

The UK IPO is responsible for the following patent related tasks:

• Receiving and examining patent applications
• Granting Patents
• Maintaining a library of granted patents
• Correcting defective patents
• Cataloguing and storing documents related to patent applications
• Collecting patent fees

The Patent Office does not deal with Patent Infringment matters. The Patents County Court or the Chancery Division of the High Court are responsible for this.

In the process of obtaining a granted patent, the involvement of the UK IPO is likely to be::

• Receiving your application and sending out a Patent Filing Number
• Checking your applications to see if it meets minimum requirement
• Publish brief details of your application in Patents and Designs Journal
• Assess whether your idea needs a secrecy order
• Conducts a novelty search
• Completes a Substantive Examination
• Suggests issues with your applicaton
• Raises any objections to your application
• Issues a notice of allowance (indicating your patent will soon be granted)
• Corrects any errors or omissions in your application
• Sends you a certificate of granted patent!

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