Explanatory note

These Rules insert into the Civil Procedure Rules 1998, as Part 63, new rules governing the procedure for intellectual property rights, in particular patents, registered designs and registered trade marks. They supersede the provisions in Practice Direction 49E.

The opportunity has been taken to make the following minor amendments to the rules currently in force:

• to rule 25.13 (security for costs where the claimant is resident out of the jurisdiction and not in a convention state) to comply with the judgment of the Court of Appeal in De Beer v. Kanaar & Co.;

• to rules 36.6 and 37.1, in anticipation of changes to the rules governing payments into court; and

• to rule 56.4 (miscellaneous provisions about land).