{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/patents-act-1977/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/patents-act-1977/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1977/37",
  "legislation_title": "Patents Act 1977",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/patents-act-1977",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "An Act to establish a new law of patents applicable to future patents and applications for patents; to amend the law of patents applicable to existing patents and applications for patents; to give effect to certain international conventions on patents; and for connected purposes.\n[29th July 1977]",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Act extended (with modifications) (2.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/3091, reg.5Act extended (8.2.1997) by S.I. 1996/3120, reg. 5Act applied (8.2.1997) by S.I. 1997/64, rule 9Act extended (1.3.2002) by The Patents and Plant Variety Rights (Compulsory Licensing) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/247), reg. 26(1) (subject to reg. 26(2)(3))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Act modified (10.6.2003) by Patents Act 1977 (Isle of Man) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1249), arts. 2, 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "Act modified (Isle of Man) (11.11.2013) by The Patents (Isle of Man) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/2602), art. 2, Sch. (as amended (1.6.2016) by The Patents (Isle of Man) (Amendment) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/559), Sch. and as further amended (15.2.2017) by The Patents (Isle of Man) (Amendment) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/162), arts. 1(2), 2, Sch. (with art. 3) and as further amended (31.12.2020) by The Patents (Isle of Man) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1327), art. 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "Act: power to amend conferred (24.5.2024 for specified purposes, 1.1.2025 in so far as not already in force) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), ss. 138(2)-(7), 339(2)(c); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(2) (with Sch. para. 10, 20)"
    },
    {
      "type": "E",
      "label": "E1",
      "text": "This Act does not extend to the Channel Islands or the Colonies for extent provision see s. 132(2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/37/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:24:17.133485+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}