Patents step 6 - Privacy and examination

A granted UK patent can stop others making, selling or using your invention in the UK, but has no influence elsewhere.

If you plan to sell or license your invention abroad, you should consider protection abroad. If you don’t, anyone can legally make, use or sell your invention overseas. In some cases, permission to file a patent application abroad may be required.

If you apply without using a patent attorney or other professional IP advisor your application details, including your name and address, will appear on the IPO records. They will also appear in the publication of your application, once all formal requirements are met. Both The IPO records and the Patents Journal are open to the public on their website, which can be permanently searched using most standard search engines. All correspondence between you and the IPO will be open to public inspection, including on their website, once your application is published. 

If you do not want your home address published, please give the IPO a different permanent address or a PO Box number where you can be contacted and where you can receive correspondence. 

Invention promotion companies  may contact you after your application has been published. Some invention promotion companies are unscrupulous, be very careful what you agree to. 

Your professional IP advisor fills in and files Form 10 at the IPO, together with the appropriate fee, asking for a substantive examination no later than six months after publication to avoid your application being terminated. 

The IPO will examine your application and will let your professional IP advisor know if anything needs to be amended and how long you have to respond. 

Click here for Step 7 – 'After your patent has been granted'

Source: GOV.UK

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0