Our pages  ‘UK Patents - The Basics’ and ‘European Patents - The Basics’ set out in detail the various procedural steps involved in obtaining UK and...

Type (lump sum or instalments) and amount of compensation are determined by an agreement between the employer and employee. The calculation of a...

Often you may wish to tell other people about your invention, for example if you are trying to license or sell to a third party, to secure...

Several Patent Offices operate a deferred patent examination system under which patent applications remain dormant until the applicant takes steps...

The German Patent Office operates a deferred patent examination system under which patent applications remain dormant until the applicant takes steps...

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For European patent applications filed since 2009, all available EPC “member states” are automatically...

Download flow chart - EP Early Stage Procedure & Paying Search Fees - Decision chart for action after issuance of a partial search report on a direct...

Failure to disclose relevant information to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) can result in a patent becoming invalid and...

In November 2000, a conference was held to discuss possible amendments to the European Patent Convention (EPC). This was the first major review of...

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Find out more about our opposition services and why Mewburn Ellis is Europe's number...

Download Grant Procedure flow chart

This information is also available in Japanese, Chinese and Korean

When the European Patent Office (EPO) agrees...

Download flowchart - European Patents - The Basics

This is information is also available in Japanese, Chinese and Korean

What is a patent

A patent...

Download flowchart - European regional phase entry - Early Stage Procedure - EPO is NOT ISA

This is information is also available in Japanese, ...

Download flowchart - European regional phase entry: Early Stage Procedure Where the EPO Acted as the ISA

Here we set out the early stage procedure...

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Amendments to the UK Patents Act which came into force on 1 October 2014 have extended the scope of the...

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The search report from the European Patent Office is accompanied by an opinion on the patent application and...

Understanding your company’s intellectual property (‘IP’) assets and, more importantly, how to protect them is an essential consideration for any...

The legal landscape around obtaining and using patent protection is complex, so it can be difficult to know how to go about getting a patent. Whilst...

In general, a patent application for an invention should be filed at the patent office before the invention has been disclosed to the public, because...

Download flowchart of the procedure - PCT Member States

There is no such thing as an "international patent." However, it is possible to file an...

Any person who invents patentable technology is by default entitled to the rights in any patent granted in respect of that technology. When filing a...

It is an underappreciated fact that virtually every business generates Intellectual Property (IP). Recognising that and identifying the IP generated...

Download Joint Applicants or Co-Owners of IP Form

Sometimes you may wish to apply for (or to own) an intellectual property right (e.g., patent,...

This page explains the consequences of a UK patent before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) and a German patent before the German Patent...

In the UK, marking a product with details of a granted patent that has been obtained for that product may deter potential infringers from copying the...

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“Oral proceedings” refers to a hearing at which one or more parties to proceedings before the EPO present...

To offer applicants a faster route to patent allowance, reduce patent office workloads and streamline procedure, many patent offices have looked into...

It is possible for the lifetime (“term”) of a US patent to be extended if the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) delays processing of...

A patent watching search is a check made at frequent intervals through relevant Official Journals or computer databases for newly published granted...

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This page describes the current approach of the European Patent Office (EPO) concerning the patentability of...

If the EPO considers that the claims of a patent application relate to more than one invention (i.e. lack "unity of invention"), then the applicant...

This page deals with a very specific topic, namely filing a Chapter II Demand. For a more general discussion of PCT applications, and the PCT...

An “international” or “PCT” patent application covers all countries/regions which are party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) (“PCT Member...

A plant variety right is an intellectual property right for the exclusive exploitation of a named plant variety. As with other IP rights, plant...

Here we set out the early stage procedure for European patent applications filed directly at the EPO, including divisional applications. We also set...

On 1 January 2011, new Rules 141 and 70b come into force at the EPO which require applicants to provide the EPO with a copy of the results of any...

You are no doubt aware of the need to keep an invention secret before a patent application is filed, but there are also circumstances where...

It is possible to register UK national patents, European patents (UK) and UK registered designs in a number of other states and territories. This...

This page provides information on the rules governing the filing of patent applications outside the UK by United Kingdom residents, and our approach...

Over 60 countries worldwide offer the possibility of extensions (PTEs or SPCs) for medicinal product patents. “Supplementary Protection Certificate”...

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The London Agreement aims to reduce translation costs incurred after the grant of a European patent. It...

If you have intellectual property which generates profit for your company, you may be entitled to pay a much lower rate of corporation tax in the UK.

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The ‘Unitary Patent Package’ consists of:

• the EU Unitary Patent; and
• the Unified...

Third Party Observations (TPOs) provide a mechanism for third parties to file objections and evidence against a pending patent application which, if...

If you have acquired or transferred intellectual property rights, e.g. patents, trade marks and/or designs, you should be aware that there are...

Download process flow diagram

A patent is a legal right granted by the UK Intellectual Property Office for a new invention. It allows the owner of...

In the USA and Canada, reduced official fees are payable for patent applications and patents if all parties holding rights in the invention qualify...

Download flowchart of the procedure - Validity and Infringement Opinions

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has a procedure to provide...

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The time period for responding to the Rule 161/162 communication (issued shortly after entry into the...

Recording a change of ownership on the EP register is not mandatory. However, we do highly recommend recording such changes for the reasons outlined...