• Patent fees

Fees associated with filing patent applications in the United Kingdom as well as other patent fees are available in the fee calculator.

• Term for filing a patent application in the UK

A patent application claiming conventional priority should be filed within twelve months from the priority date. This term may be restored for two additional months provided that the failure to file the application in due time was unintentional.

• Filing requirements in the UK

The official language of the UK patent application is English or Welsh. If the patent application is filed in any other foreign language, the Comptroller shall notify the applicant that a translation into one of the official languages should be submitted within two months from the date of the notification.

To obtain the date of filing a patent application in the UK should contain:
- request to grant a patent;
- contact details of the applicant;
- something which is or appears to be a description or a reference to an earlier application;
- proof of payment of the corresponding fees.

If the priority is claimed, a certified copy of the Priority Document must be filed within sixteen months of the earliest priority date. If the priority document is in a language other than English or Welsh, the Comptroller may notify the applicant to furnish the translation within a specified term.

Currently, the United Kingdom legislation does not require filing a Power of Attorney when filing a patent application.

If the applicant is not an inventor, the statement of inventorship (Assignment Deed) should be provided within 16 months from the date of filing, or from the priority date if it is claimed.

• Request for the official search

The request for official search as well as the payment of the corresponding fee should be provided to the UK IPO at the time of filing the application or within 12 months of the filing date or the priority date.

• Examination of the UK patent application

Patent applications in the UK undergo formal and substantive examinations. A request for substantive examination, as well as the payment of the corresponding fee, must be submitted within six months from the publication of the patent application. It is possible to request an accelerated examination under PPH.

• Novelty grace period

A UK patent application may be filed within six months after the disclosure at an officially recognised international exhibition or when such a disclosure was made in bad faith by any third party. The evidence substantiating the display of the invention at an exhibition must be filed alongside an application.

• Grant, validity term and maintenance fees

The official grant fee is not stipulated for UK patents having less than 25 claims and less than 35 pages of description. Patents in the UK are in force for twenty years from the filing date. The first annuity is due on the 4th anniversary of the filing date, but it is only payable at granting of the patent. Annual fees should be paid within three months before or one month after the due date to avoid late payment fees. Late payment is possible within a six-month grace period by paying a corresponding surcharge.

• Duration of registration procedure

The average processing time for patent registration procedure in the United Kingdom is 30 months.

• Utility Model

Utility model protection is not available under the UK legislation.

• Representation by a patent attorney

For foreign patent applicants residing outside the United Kingdom it is recommended to perform the patent prosecution through an agent, a registered UK patent attorney.

• Notes

1. Online Search Databases: UK Patents, European Patents (EPO).
2. European Patent is valid in the United Kingdom automatically.

The above information was verified on 11.03.2024
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with the UK IP Laws.