Patents Act 1977 — United Kingdom law | Esheria

Patents Act 1977

This section sets the basic rules for patentable inventions and the patent application process, including who may apply, what an application must contain, and how the Patent Office and comptroller handle examination, refusal, withdrawal, and grant.

AI-assisted research synopsis — verify against the official legal text below.

Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Instrument
Act or statute
Version
Undated source snapshot
Language
en
Official source
View official record ↗
Crown use European patent (UK) application fee timing application formalities comptroller powers confidentiality court procedure electronic communications employee inventions entitlement proceedings fees government use of patents information disclosure international patent applications inventorship legislative amendments ownership and licensing patent amendment patent application patent applications patent infringement patent interpretation patent licensing patent proceedings +11 more

Statute overview

About this statute

This section sets the basic rules for patentable inventions and the patent application process, including who may apply, what an application must contain, and how the Patent Office and comptroller handle examination, refusal, withdrawal, and grant. This provision lets the comptroller restrict patent-application publication for security reasons, gives certain people a temporary right to keep using an act done in good faith before reinstatement, and sets rules for patent grant, renewal, restoration, registration, and related penalties. The provision covers patent licensing and employee invention rules, including when the comptroller may or must act, when contract terms are unenforceable, and how Crown use of inventions is handled. This section covers patent disputes, Crown use, emergency powers, infringement, threats, declarations, and revocation rules. This provision restricts when patent validity can be challenged on a particular ground, lets the comptroller issue non-binding opinions on request, and sets rules for amendment of patent specifications and applications.