Data Coverage

Not In Force (NIF) Data

This database contains details of all GB and EP(UK) granted patents and GB published patent applications that have a NIF status on the day the data is extracted from the Register of Patents.

Initially, the database will be populated with GB and EP(UK) patent data where the case has one of the following NIF statuses:

Pre-Grant NIF Statuses

  • Withdrawn
  • Deemed withdrawn
  • Refused
  • Terminated before grant

Post-Grant NIF Statuses

  • Ceased
  • Expired
  • Revoked
  • Surrendered

NIF Statuses for EP(UK) Cases Only

  • Ceased
  • Expired
  • Revoked
  • Surrendered

The database does not, however, contain data on GB or EP(UK) cases that were Not In Force BEFORE 1 January 1989 as that data was not added to the electronic database when it was created.

Warning: Please note that it is possible for the NIF status of a patent to change (eg a patent can be restored), so we recommend that you check the Patents Register before acting on your findings in this database.

Data Content

This database contains the following data items:

  • NIF start date
  • GB or EP(UK) publication and application numbers
  • Reason Not In Force
  • Owner
  • IPC classification data (more information on the IPC classification system)
  • Filing date of patent application
  • Title
  • Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) Number (when appropriate)

The default Sort option is the NIF date with the most recent appearing first. You can change the sort to any of the following:

  • NIF Start date reverse
  • IPC
  • Publication number

If you click on an application number it will take you directly to the full details page of the Patents Register for that case; similarly if you click on the publication number it will take you to either the GB esp@cenet results page or the Worldwide esp@cenet bibliographic data page where you can view a copy of the patent specification.

Some NIF cases have an additional data item ("SPC") which stands for Supplementary Protection Certificate.  An SPC is effectively an extension of a patent under a specific, different, set of rights.  If you click on the SPC number it will take you to our SPC database where you can view the details for that SPC.

We would welcome your feedback on these databases. Please tell us what you think