Changing and renewing your patent

You may want to change the details we hold about your patent, and you must renew your patent regularly to keep it in force.

Changing

Transferring ownership (assigning)

You can transfer ownership of your patent to someone else. This includes any change of ownership as a result of company mergers.

Changing or appointing an attorney

You can appoint a patent attorney, to deal with your application or some complicated part of the procedures for you.

Changing your name or address

If you change your name or address you should tell us so that we can update our records.

Correcting an error

You can correct an error in your application or patent specification.

Cancelling your patent

What to do if we cancel your patent.

Amending your patent after grant

What you can do if you want to amend your patent after it has been granted?

Renewing

Renewing your patent

You can renew your patent for up to 20 years. To keep your patent in force, you must renew it from the 5th year and every year after that. You may, of course, choose not to renew it.

Restoration

You can ask us to restore your patent within 19 months of the patent cancellation.