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The Patents Rules 2007

S.I. 2007/3291 · Made 19 November 2007 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 1 January 2021.

PATENTS

Made 19th November 2007

Laid before Parliament 22nd November 2007

Coming into force 17th December 2007

The Secretary of State makes the following Rules in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 14(6), 25(5), 32, 74B, 77(9), 92, 123, 125A and 130(2) of the Patents Act 1977 M1.

In accordance with section 8 of the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992 M2, the Secretary of State has consulted the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council.

Annotations to the whole text

Marginal citations

M1

1977 c. 37; section 74B was inserted by the Patents Act 2004 (c.16); section 123 was amended by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (c. 48), Schedule 5, paragraph 29, and the Patents Act 2004 (c.16), Schedule 2, paragraph 26; section 125A was inserted by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Schedule 5, paragraph 30, and was amended by SI 2000/2037.

M2

1992 c. 53; the definition of “Council” has been amended by the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c.15), Schedule 8, paragraph 30.

Contents

  1. Part 1: INTRODUCTORY
  2. 1Citation and commencement
  3. 2General interpretation
  4. 3The declared priority date
  5. 4Forms and documents
  6. Part 2: APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS
  7. Chapter: International exhibitions
  8. 5International exhibitions
  9. Chapter: Declarations of priority
  10. 6Declaration of priority for the purposes of section 5(2) (priority date)
  11. 7Request to the comptroller for permission to make a late declaration under section 5(2B)
  12. 8Filing of priority documents to support a declaration under section 5(2)
  13. 9Translation of priority documents
  14. Chapter: Mention of the inventor
  15. 10Mention of the inventor
  16. 11Waiving the right to be mentioned
  17. Chapter: Form and content of applications
  18. 12Applications for the grant of patents under sections 14 and 15
  19. 13Biological material and sequence listings
  20. 14Size and presentation of application
  21. 15The abstract
  22. 16Single inventive concept
  23. 17References under section 15(1)(c)(ii)
  24. 18Missing parts
  25. Chapter: New applications
  26. 19New applications filed as mentioned in section 15(9)
  27. 20New applications under sections 8(3), 12(6) and 37(4)
  28. 21Extensions for new applications
  29. Chapter: Periods for filing contents of application
  30. 22Periods prescribed for the purposes of sections 15(10) and 17(1)
  31. Chapter: Preliminary examination
  32. 23Preliminary examination under section 15A
  33. 24Correcting a declaration made for the purposes of section 5(2)
  34. 25Formal requirements
  35. Chapter: Publication of application
  36. 26Publication of application
  37. Chapter: Search and substantive examination
  38. 27Search under section 17
  39. 28Request for substantive examination under section 18
  40. 29Substantive examination reports
  41. 30Period for putting application in order
  42. 30AFee for the grant of a patent under section 18(4)
  43. 31Amendment of application before grant
  44. 32Reinstatement of applications under section 20A
  45. 33Observations by third parties on patentability
  46. Part 3: GRANTED PATENTS
  47. Chapter: Certificate and amendment
  48. 34Certificate of grant
  49. 35Amendment of specification after grant
  50. Chapter: Renewal
  51. 36Renewal of patents: general
  52. 37Renewal of patents: first renewal
  53. 38Renewal of patents: subsequent renewals
  54. 39Renewal notice
  55. 40Restoration of lapsed patents under section 28
  56. 41Notification of lapsed patent
  57. 41APayment of fees under section 77(5A) following restoration of a European patent (UK)
  58. Chapter: Surrender and cancelling entry that licences available as of right
  59. 42Surrender
  60. 43Application for, and cancellation of, an entry that licences are available as of right
  61. Part 4: THE REGISTER AND OTHER INFORMATION
  62. Chapter: The register
  63. 44Entries in the register
  64. 45Advertisement in relation to register
  65. 46Copies of entries in, or extracts from, the register and certified facts
  66. 47Registrations of transactions, instruments and events
  67. Chapter: Copies of documents and corrections in relation to the register
  68. 48Copies of documents
  69. 49Correction or change of name or address; correction of address for service
  70. 50Request for correction of error
  71. Chapter: Requests for information or documents
  72. 51Restrictions on inspection of documents
  73. 52Request for information where section 118(4) applies
  74. 53Confidential documents
  75. 54Requests for certain information
  76. 55Bibliographic information about an unpublished application
  77. Part 5: EUROPEAN PATENTS (UK)
  78. Chapter: Translations
  79. 56Translations of European patents (UK)
  80. 57Corrected translations
  81. Chapter: Conversion requests
  82. 58Procedure for making a conversion request under section 81(2)(b)(i)
  83. 59Procedure for making a conversion request under section 81(2)(b)(ii)
  84. 60Request for substantive examination following a direction under section 81
  85. Chapter: Obligations to other contracting parties to the European Patent Convention
  86. 61Recognition of patent decision of competent authorities of other states
  87. 62Procedure for obtaining evidence for proceedings under the European Patent Convention
  88. 63Communication of information to the European Patent Office
  89. Part 6: INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS
  90. Chapter: Interpretation
  91. 64Interpretation relating to international applications
  92. Chapter: Filing at the Patent Office
  93. 65Filing of international applications at the Patent Office
  94. Chapter: Beginning the national phase, international exhibitions and altered prescribed periods
  95. 66Beginning of national phase
  96. 66AAmendment of international application before grant
  97. 67International exhibitions
  98. 68Altered prescribed periods
  99. Chapter: Translations
  100. 69Necessary translations under section 89A(3) and (5)
  101. 70Requirements of necessary translations
  102. Chapter: Application deemed withdrawn or filing date refused under the Patent Co-operation Treaty
  103. 71Directions under section 89(3) and (5)
  104. 72Circumstance prescribed for the purposes of section 89(3)
  105. Part 7: PROCEEDINGS HEARD BEFORE THE COMPTROLLER
  106. Chapter: Introductory
  107. 73Scope and interpretation
  108. 74Overriding objective
  109. 75Publication of notices
  110. Chapter: Conduct of hearings
  111. 76Starting proceedings
  112. 77Notification of the parties
  113. 78The counter-statement
  114. 79Copies of documents
  115. 80Evidence rounds and the hearing
  116. 81Alteration of time limits
  117. 81AFailure to file Patents Form 4
  118. 82General powers of the comptroller in relation to proceedings before him
  119. 83Striking out a statement of case and summary judgment
  120. 84Hearings in public
  121. Chapter: Miscellaneous
  122. 85Security for costs or expenses
  123. 86Powers of comptroller to compel attendance of witnesses and production of documents
  124. 87Evidence in proceedings before the comptroller
  125. 88Proceedings in Scotland
  126. 89Proceedings started under section 46(3) by a person other than the proprietor
  127. 90Licences following entitlement proceedings
  128. 91Period prescribed for applications by employee for compensation
  129. Part 8: OPINIONS
  130. Chapter: Interpretation
  131. 92Interpretation
  132. Chapter: Request for opinion
  133. 93Request for an opinion under section 74A
  134. 94Refusal or withdrawal of request
  135. 95Notification and advertisement of request
  136. 96Submission of observations and observations in reply
  137. 97Issue of the opinion
  138. Chapter: Review of opinion
  139. 98Review of opinion
  140. 99Procedure on review
  141. 100Outcome of review
  142. Part 9: MISCELLANEOUS
  143. Chapter: Agents and advisers
  144. 101Agents
  145. 102Appointing advisers
  146. Chapter: Address for service
  147. 103Address for service
  148. 104Failure to furnish an address for service
  149. Chapter: Corrections and remission of fees
  150. 105Correction of errors
  151. 106Remission of fees
  152. 107Correction of irregularities
  153. Chapter: Time limits and delays
  154. 108Extension of time limits
  155. 109Extension of time limits specified by comptroller
  156. 110Interrupted days
  157. 111Delays in communication services
  158. Chapter: Copies available to the comptroller
  159. 112Copies available to the comptroller
  160. Chapter: Translations
  161. 113Translations
  162. 114Translations in proceedings in relation to a European patent (UK)
  163. 115Establishing the accuracy of translations
  164. Chapter: Supplementary Protection Certificates
  165. 116Supplementary protection certificates
  166. 116ANotifications relating to supplementary protection certificates
  167. Chapter: Publications
  168. 117The journal
  169. 118Reports of cases
  170. 119Publication and sale of documents
  171. Chapter: Transitional provisions and revocations
  172. 120Transitional provisions and revocations
  173. Signature
  174. Schedule 1: BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL
  175. 1Introductory
  176. 2Specification of an application for a patent, or of a patent, for an invention which involves the use of or concerns biological material
  177. 3The first and second requirements
  178. 4A request by a person for biological material to be made available
  179. 5The undertaking
  180. 6Restriction of availability of biological material to experts
  181. 7Request for a sample to be made available to expert
  182. 8New deposits
  183. Schedule 2: FORMAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
  184. Part 1: REQUIREMENTS: ALL DOCUMENTS
  185. 1Paragraph 1
  186. 2Paragraph 2
  187. 3Paragraph 3
  188. Part 2: REQUIREMENTS: DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS)
  189. 4Paragraph 4
  190. 5Paragraph 5
  191. 6Paragraph 6
  192. 7Paragraph 7
  193. 8Paragraph 8
  194. 9Paragraph 9
  195. 10Paragraph 10
  196. Part 3: REQUIREMENTS: DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
  197. 11Paragraph 11
  198. 12Paragraph 12
  199. 13Paragraph 13
  200. 14Paragraph 14
  201. 15Paragraph 15
  202. 16Paragraph 16
  203. 17Paragraph 17
  204. 18Paragraph 18
  205. 19Paragraph 19
  206. 20Paragraph 20
  207. 20AParagraph 20A
  208. Part 4: OTHER REQUIREMENTS
  209. 21Paragraph 21
  210. 22Paragraph 22
  211. 23Paragraph 23
  212. 24Paragraph 24
  213. 25Paragraph 25
  214. Schedule 3: PROCEEDINGS HEARD BEFORE THE COMPTROLLER
  215. Part 1: APPLICATIONS, REFERENCES AND REQUESTS
  216. Paragraph
  217. Part 2: OPPOSITIONS WHICH START PROCEEDINGS
  218. Paragraph
  219. Part 3: OPPOSITIONS AFTER PROCEEDINGS HAVE STARTED
  220. Paragraph
  221. Part 4: RULES WHICH APPLY TO ANY PROCEEDINGS HEARD BEFORE THE COMPTROLLER
  222. Paragraph
  223. Part 5: RULES WHICH APPLY TO A REVIEW OF AN OPINION
  224. Paragraph
  225. Schedule 4: EXTENSION OF TIME LIMITS
  226. Part 1: PERIODS OF TIME THAT CANNOT BE EXTENDED
  227. Paragraph
  228. Part 2: PERIODS OF TIME THAT MAY BE EXTENDED UNDER RULE 108(2) OR 108(3)
  229. Paragraph
  230. Part 3: PERIODS OF TIME TO WHICH RULE 108(5) AND 108(7) RELATE
  231. Paragraph
  232. Schedule 5: TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
  233. 1Interpretation
  234. 2Periods of time
  235. 3Proceedings before the comptroller
  236. 4Service by post
  237. 5Applications to which certain amendments made to the Act by the Regulatory Reform (Patents) Order 2004 do not apply.
  238. 6Security for costs
  239. 7Patent applications filed before 7th January 1991
  240. 8Patent applications filed between 7th January 1991 and 27th July 2000
  241. 9Continued application of Patents Rules 1968 to existing patents
  242. 10Application of these Rules to existing patents and applications
  243. 11Application of the 1995 Rules to sections 8 and 12
  244. Schedule 6REVOCATIONS
  245. Explanatory note