Transferring or selling the ownership of a patent

If you transfer or sell the ownership of your patent or the ownership changes following company mergers, you must tell us using the Patents Form 21 (20Kb) so that we can record it on the register of Patents. Assignment is the legal term for a transfer of ownership and the form 21 is the form we use to record this. It does not replace a formal assignment document.

There is no fee for this.

The form must be signed by the assignor or their representative. If this is not possible, then documentary evidence of the transfer of the ownership must be provided.

Please note that any documents filed as evidence of the transfer will be destroyed in due course. Original documents are not required, we will accept photocopies of the evidence you file.

Send your request to

Intellectual Property Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom

What happens next?

We will record the details of the assignment in the register of patents and send written confirmation to you.