OpenLegislation

Patents Act 1977

1977 c. 37 · Enacted 29 July 1977 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 3 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 January 2025.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 5 para. 5repealedTribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 Sch. 23 Pt. 6
s. 56(4)(a)(iiia) and wordaddedThe Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 (Consequential Modifications) (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) Order 2006 Sch. para. 2(b)
s. 56(4)(a)(i)words omittedThe Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 (Consequential Modifications) (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) Order 2006 Sch. para. 2(a)

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.

[29th July 1977] C1E1C2C3C4

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act extended (with modifications) (2.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/3091, reg.5

Act extended (8.2.1997) by S.I. 1996/3120, reg. 5

Act applied (8.2.1997) by S.I. 1997/64, rule 9

Act 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))

C2

Act modified (10.6.2003) by Patents Act 1977 (Isle of Man) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1249), arts. 2, 3, Sch.

C3

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))

C4

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)

Extent

E1

This Act does not extend to the Channel Islands or the Colonies for extent provision see s. 132(2)

Contents

  1. Part I: New Domestic Law
  2. Patentability
  3. 1Patentable inventions.
  4. 2Novelty.
  5. 3Inventive step.
  6. 4Industrial application.
  7. 4AMethods of treatment or diagnosis
  8. 5Priority date.
  9. 6Disclosure of matter, etc., between earlier and later applications.
  10. Right to apply for and obtain a patent and be mentioned as inventor
  11. 7Right to apply for and obtain a patent.
  12. 8Determination before grant of questions about entitlement to patents, etc.
  13. 9Determination after grant of questions referred before grant.
  14. 10Handling of application by joint applicants.
  15. 11Effect of transfer of application under s. 8 or 10.
  16. 12Determination of questions about entitlement to foreign and convention patents, etc.
  17. 13Mention of inventor.
  18. Applications
  19. 14Making of application.
  20. 15Date of filing application.
  21. 15APreliminary examination
  22. 16Publication of application.
  23. Examination and search
  24. 17Search.
  25. 18Substantive examination and grant or refusal of patent.
  26. 19General power to amend application before grant.
  27. 20Failure of application.
  28. 20AReinstatement of applications
  29. 20BEffect of reinstatement under section 20A
  30. 21Observations by third party on patentability.
  31. Security and safety
  32. 22Information prejudicial to national security or safety of public.
  33. 23Restrictions on applications abroad by United Kingdom residents.
  34. Provisions as to patents after grant
  35. 24Publication and certificate of grant.
  36. 25Term of patent.
  37. 26Patent not to be impugned for lack of unity.
  38. 27General power to amend specification after grant.
  39. 28Restoration of lapsed patents.
  40. 28AEffect of order for restoration of patent.
  41. 29Surrender of patents.
  42. Property in patents and applications, and registration
  43. 30Nature of, and transactions in, patents and applications for patents.
  44. 31Nature of, and transactions in, patents and applications for patents in Scotland.
  45. 32Register of patents etc.
  46. 33Effect of registration, etc., on rights in patents.
  47. 34Rectification of register.
  48. 35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  49. 36Co-ownership of patents and applications for patents.
  50. 37Determination of right to patent after grant.
  51. 38Effect of transfer of patent under s. 37.
  52. Employees’ inventions
  53. 39Right to employees’ inventions.
  54. 40Compensation of employees for certain inventions.
  55. 41Amount of compensation.
  56. 42Enforceability of contracts relating to employees’ inventions.
  57. 43Supplementary.
  58. Contracts as to patented products, etc.
  59. 44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  60. 45Determination of parts of certain contracts. Repealed
  61. Licences of right and compulsory licences
  62. 46Patentee’s application for entry in register that licences are available as of right.
  63. 47Cancellation of entry made under s. 46.
  64. 48Compulsory licences: general.
  65. 48ACompulsory licences: WTO proprietors.
  66. 48BCompulsory licences: other cases.
  67. 49Provisions about licences under s. 48.
  68. 50Exercise of powers on applications under s. 48.
  69. 50APowers exercisable following merger and market investigations
  70. 51Powers exercisable in consequence of report of Competition and Markets Authority.
  71. 52Opposition, appeal and arbitration.
  72. 53Compulsory licences; supplementary provisions.
  73. 54Special provisions where patented invention is being worked abroad.
  74. Use of patented inventions for services of the Crown
  75. 55Use of patented inventions for services of the Crown.
  76. 56Interpretation, etc., of provisions about Crown use.
  77. 57Rights of third parties in respect of Crown use.
  78. 57ACompensation for loss of profit.
  79. 58References of disputes as to Crown use.
  80. 59Special provisions as to Crown use during emergency.
  81. Infringement
  82. 60Meaning of infringement.
  83. 61Proceedings for infringement of patent.
  84. 62Restrictions on recovery of damages for infringement.
  85. 63Relief for infringement of partially valid patent.
  86. 64Right to continue use begun before priority date.
  87. 65Certificate of contested validity of patent.
  88. 66Proceedings for infringement by a co-owner.
  89. 67Proceedings for infringement by exclusive licensee.
  90. 68Effect of non-registration on infringement proceedings.
  91. 69Infringement of rights conferred by publication of application.
  92. 70Threats of infringement proceedings
  93. 70AActionable threats
  94. 70BPermitted communications
  95. 70CRemedies and defences
  96. 70DProfessional advisers
  97. 70ESupplementary: pending registration
  98. 70FSupplementary: proceedings for delivery up etc.
  99. Declaration or declarator as to non-infringement
  100. 71Declaration or declarator as to non-infringement
  101. Revocation of patents
  102. 72Power to revoke patents on application.
  103. 73Comptroller’s power to revoke patents on his own initiative.
  104. Putting validity in issue
  105. 74Proceedings in which validity of patent may be put in issue.
  106. Opinions by Patent Office
  107. 74AOpinions on matters prescribed in the rules
  108. 74BReviews of opinions under section 74A
  109. General provisions as to amendment of patents and applications
  110. 75Amendment of patent in infringement or revocation proceedings.
  111. 76Amendments of applications and patents not to include added matter.
  112. 76ABiotechnological inventions
  113. Part II: Provisions about International Conventions
  114. European patents and patent applications
  115. 77Effect of European patent (UK).
  116. 78Effect of filing an application for a European patent (UK).
  117. 79Operation of s. 78 in relation to certain European patent applications.
  118. 80Authentic text of European patents and patent applications.
  119. 81Conversion of European patent applications.
  120. 82Jurisdiction to determine questions as to right to a patent.
  121. 83Effect of patent decisions of competent authorities of other states.
  122. 83AEuropean patent with unitary effect and Unified Patent Court
  123. 84. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  124. 85. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  125. Community patents
  126. 86Implementation of Community Patent Convention. Not yet in force
  127. 87Decisions on Community Patent Convention. Not yet in force
  128. 88. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  129. Unified Patent Court
  130. 88AImplementation of Agreement on a Unified Patent Court Repealed
  131. 88BDesignation as international organisation of which UK is member Repealed
  132. International applications for patents
  133. 89Effect of international application for patent.
  134. 89AInternational and national phases of application.
  135. 89BAdaptation of provisions in relation to international application.
  136. Convention countries
  137. 90Orders in Council as to convention countries.
  138. Miscellaneous
  139. 91Evidence of conventions and instruments under conventions.
  140. 92Obtaining evidence for proceedings under the European Patent Convention.
  141. 93Enforcement of orders for costs.
  142. 94Communication of information to the European Patent Office, etc.
  143. 95Financial provisions.
  144. Part III: Miscellaneous and General
  145. Legal Proceedings
  146. 96The Patents Court.
  147. 97Appeals from the comptroller.
  148. 98Proceedings in Scotland.
  149. 99General powers of the court.
  150. 99APower of Patents Court to order report.
  151. 99BPower of Court of Session to order report.
  152. 100Burden of proof in certain cases.
  153. 101Exercise of comptroller’s discretionary powers.
  154. 102Right of audience, &c. in proceedings before comptroller.
  155. 102ARight of audience, &c. in proceedings on appeal from the comptroller. Repealed
  156. 103Extension of privilege for communications with solicitors relating to patent proceedings.
  157. 104Privilege for communications with patent agents relating to patent proceedings. Repealed
  158. 105Extension of privilege in Scotland for communications relating to patent proceedings.
  159. 106Costs and expenses in proceedings before the Court ....
  160. 107Costs and expenses in proceedings before the comptroller.
  161. 108Licences granted by order of comptroller.
  162. Offences
  163. 109Falsification of register etc.
  164. 110Unauthorised claim of patent rights.
  165. 111Unauthorised claim that patent has been applied for.
  166. 112Misuse of title “Patent Office”.
  167. 113Offences by corporations.
  168. 114. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  169. 115. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  170. Immunity of department
  171. 116Immunity of department as regards official acts.
  172. Administrative provisions
  173. 117Correction of errors in patents and applications.
  174. 117AEffect of resuscitating a withdrawn application under section 117
  175. 117BExtension of time limits specified by comptroller
  176. 118Information about patent applications and patents, and inspection of documents.
  177. 118ACopyright in documents made available electronically for inspection under section 118(1) Repealed
  178. 119Service by post.
  179. 120Hours of business and excluded days.
  180. 121Comptroller’s annual report.
  181. Supplemental
  182. 122Crown’s right to sell forfeited articles.
  183. 123Rules.
  184. 124Rules, regulations and orders; supplementary.
  185. 124AUse of electronic communications
  186. 125Extent of invention.
  187. 125ADisclosure of invention by specification: availablity of samples of biological material.
  188. 126. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  189. 127Existing patents and applications.
  190. 128Priorities between patents and applications under 1949 Act and this Act.
  191. 128ACompulsory pharmaceutical licences
  192. 128BSupplementary protection certificates
  193. 129Application of Act to Crown.
  194. 130Interpretation.
  195. 131Northern Ireland.
  196. 131AScotland
  197. 132Short title, extent, commencement, consequential amendments and repeals.
  198. Schedule A1: DEROGATION FROM PATENT PROTECTION IN RESPECT OF BIOTECHNOLOGICAL INVENTIONS
  199. 1Interpretation
  200. 2Specified species
  201. 3Liability to pay equitable remuneration
  202. 4Exemption for small farmers
  203. 5Information to be supplied by farmer
  204. 6Information to be supplied by seed processor
  205. 7Information to be supplied by relevant rights holder
  206. 8Period in respect of which inquiry may be made
  207. 9Restriction on movement for processing from the holding
  208. 10Confidentiality
  209. 11Formalities
  210. 12Remedies
  211. Schedule A2: BIOTECHNOLOGICAL INVENTIONS
  212. 1Paragraph 1
  213. 2Paragraph 2
  214. 3Paragraph 3
  215. 4Paragraph 4
  216. 5Paragraph 5
  217. 6Paragraph 6
  218. 7Paragraph 7
  219. 8Paragraph 8
  220. 9Paragraph 9
  221. 10Paragraph 10
  222. 11Paragraph 11
  223. Schedule A3: EUROPEAN PATENT WITH UNITARY EFFECT
  224. Meaning of “relevant statutory provisions”
  225. 1Paragraph 1
  226. Provisions applied by this Schedule to the European patent with unitary effect
  227. 2Paragraph 2
  228. Manner of application of relevant statutory provisions
  229. 3Paragraph 3
  230. Modifications of relevant statutory provisions
  231. 4Paragraph 4
  232. Interpretation
  233. 5Paragraph 5
  234. Schedule A4: THE UNIFIED PATENT COURT
  235. Jurisdiction
  236. 1Paragraph 1
  237. Transitional provisions
  238. 2Paragraph 2
  239. Modifications of law applicable where UPC has jurisdiction
  240. 3Paragraph 3
  241. Enforcement
  242. 4Paragraph 4
  243. Interpretation
  244. 5Paragraph 5
  245. Schedule 1: Application of 1949 Act to existing patents and applications
  246. 1Paragraph 1
  247. 2Paragraph 2
  248. 3Paragraph 3
  249. 4Paragraph 4
  250. 4AParagraph 4A
  251. 4BParagraph 4B
  252. 5Paragraph 5
  253. 6Paragraph 6
  254. 7Paragraph 7
  255. 8Paragraph 8
  256. Schedule 2: Application of this Act to Existing Patents and Applications
  257. 1Paragraph 1
  258. 2Paragraph 2
  259. Schedule 3: REPEALS OF PROVISIONS OF 1949 ACT
  260. 1Paragraph 1
  261. 2Paragraph 2
  262. Schedule 4: Transitional Provisions
  263. General
  264. 1Paragraph 1
  265. Use of patented invention for services of the Crown
  266. 2Paragraph 2
  267. Infringement
  268. 3Paragraph 3
  269. Notice of opposition
  270. 4Paragraph 4
  271. Secrecy
  272. 5Paragraph 5
  273. Revocation
  274. 6Paragraph 6
  275. 7Paragraph 7
  276. Licences of right and compulsory licences
  277. 8Paragraph 8
  278. Convention countries
  279. 9Paragraph 9
  280. Appeals from court on certain petitions for revocation
  281. 10Paragraph 10
  282. Appeals from comptroller under continuing provisions of 1949 Act
  283. 11Paragraph 11
  284. Appeals from comptroller under repealed provisions of 1949 Act
  285. 12Paragraph 12
  286. Appeals from Appeal Tribunal to Court of Appeal
  287. 13Paragraph 13
  288. Rules
  289. 14Paragraph 14
  290. Supplementary
  291. 15Paragraph 15
  292. 16Paragraph 16
  293. 17Paragraph 17
  294. 18Paragraph 18
  295. Schedule 4A: SUPPLEMENTARY PROTECTION CERTIFICATES
  296. 1References to patents etc
  297. 2References to patents etc
  298. 3References to this Act etc
  299. 4Other references
  300. 5Fees
  301. 6Interpretation
  302. 7Interpretation
  303. 8Transitional provision
  304. Schedule 5: CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
  305. 1, 2Paragraph 1, 2 Repealed
  306. 3Paragraph 3
  307. Defence Contracts Act 1958 (c. 38)
  308. 4Paragraph 4
  309. Administration of Justice Act 1970 (c. 31)
  310. 5Paragraph 5
  311. Atomic Energy Authority (Weapons Group) Act 1973 (c. 4)
  312. 6Paragraph 6
  313. 7, 8Paragraph 7, 8 Repealed
  314. Schedule 6ENACTMENTS REPEALED