Intellectual Property

Patents

We are responsible for formulating and delivering United Kingdom policy patent topics. The following detail the latest position on the main issues that we deal with:

Agreement on translations

Formally the Agreement on application of Article 65 of the European Patent Convention. Also known as the "London Agreement".

Biotechnological inventions

There is still some controversy as to whether biotechnological inventions should be allowed to be patented. The regulations and directives are outlined.

The Community Patent

Information regarding the proposed Community Patent, which would, when granted, automatically be valid across the European Union.

Computer-implemented inventions

This section discusses software patents.

European Patent Court

Information on EU work to create a European Patent Court

European Patent Litigation Agreement

This section outlines information about proposals to provide Europe with a sound intellectual property framework.

Paediatric medicines

This section outlines details of a proposal for regulation on medicines for paediatric use.

Pharmaceutical legislation

An introduction to the review of pharmaceutical legislation ("The Bolar Exemption").

Utility models

An introduction to the utility model, which is a registered right which gives its owner exclusive protection for an invention, similar to a patent.