Patent policy issues

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:

Recent developments

The Community Patent

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

Computer-implemented inventions

Information relating to software patents.

European Patent Court

Information on EU work to create a European Patent Court

Information

Agreement on translations (London Agreement)

Information on the Agreement on application of Article 65 of the European Patent Convention, known as the London Agreement.

Biotechnological inventions

Information relating to the regulations and directives regarding the patentability of biotechnological inventions.

Paediatric medicines

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

Pharmaceutical legislation (The Bolar Exemption)

An introduction to the review of pharmaceutical legislation.