Licensing

You can use someone else's patent if they have granted you a licence to do so.

Some patents are endorsed in the register of patents with a licence of right entry. This means that  anyone has a right to a licence under that patent.

We have a database of patents that are endorsed Licence of Right.

The terms of any licence are entirely a matter between you and the licensor, and we do not have any powers to investigate the validity of a licence unless you cannot agree about the terms under a licence of right.

You or the licensor should register the licence with us and we will record it in the register of patents.

Fill in Form 21

To register a licence or cancellation of a licence you need to fill in form 21. There is a charge of GBP £50 per form. The person granting the licence or their representative should sign the form. If any of them cannot do so, we will accept other documents as proof that the licence has been granted.

Any material filed may be open to public inspection, including on our website.

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 us your request

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

You do not need a licence for a patent that is not valid. A validity search can help you to check if a patent is valid.