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 issue of substantive patent law harmonisation has been subject to international consideration for many years.
Information on Patent Backlogs
Information regarding the proposed Community Patent, which would, when granted, be automatically valid across the European Union.
This section outlines the work being conducted to reform the PCT system.
Computer-implemented inventions
Information relating to software patents.
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.
Information relating to the regulations and directives regarding the patentability of biotechnological inventions.
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.