New patent rules to ‘benefit businesses’

Changes to the rules governing the UK patent system will ‘make life easier and fairer for the British business community,’ the Government claims.

The new legislation, which came into effect yesterday, aims to modernise the existing patent rules to give businesses more flexibility and allow for greater use of electronic services.

Minister for Innovation, Lord Triesman, said the reforms would allow businesses to ‘get on with what they do best – leading the world in innovation and enterprise.’

New simplified rules on litigation setting out flexible and user-friendly procedures came into force on 17 December, along with revised case-management powers that aim to provide more clarity for businesses.

New provisions have also been drafted to reflect the electronic filling of patent applications. Under the new legislation applications can now be filed in either English or Welsh.

Commenting on the new rules, the Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Ian Fletcher, said: ‘I’m pleased to have in place a new set of patent rules which lift the burden from UK business and better allow the UK-IPO to expand the range of electronic services we offer customers’.