 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
Background; The Patent Specification; Filing a Patent Application; Ownership of Patents; Foreign Applications; European Patents; Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT); The Paris Convention; First Publication; The Granted Patent; Product Marking; Summary of Stages of Progress of typical British Patent Application.
Month 0
File informal application.
Month 12
Formalise informal application by filing claims and request for search; possibly file foreign applications.
Month 16
Search Report issued and sent to applicant.
Month 18
First publication; provisional protection commences (see under "First Publication").
Month 24
File examination request.
Month 36
First examination report issues.
Month 42
Respond to first examination report.
Month 44
Application accepted.
Month 48
Patent granted.
For patents in chemistry, metallurgy, biochemistry and biotechnology, contact Stephen Wilkinson in our Bristol office.
For patents in physics, electrical engineering, general engineering and computing, contact Chris Boydell or Sarah Perkins in our London office or David Marles in our Bristol office.