UK Patents

The UK patent process is deceptively straightforward- procedurally at least. We will guide you through the process with easy to understand advice and real recommendations at each stage, taking your needs into account each step of the way.

How the UK patent process works

This is a typical patent process in the UK. However, there are ways we can vary it to meet your needs.

Having been a Chartered UK Patent Attorney since 2009, Phil has filed and prosecuted hundreds of patent applications. So he understands how to use the UK process to get the best results.

Whether it’s getting patents granted quickly to keep infringers at bay, help with investment opportunities or claim UK tax relief, Phil understands how the system works, and how to use it to get what his client wants.

  • Once your application is drafted, we file it electronically at the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO). You will receive an application number straight away. From this point until grant you have a pending patent application (what many people refer to as ‘patent pending’).

  • The IPO will review the application for any missing information and provide us with a timescale to respond. This may include submitting some better drawings, for example (this can sometimes happen if the application was filed in a hurry!).

  • The IPO will provide us with a preliminary indication of whether the invention described in the application is patentable. This is an important stage. So we take care to review the search report and give you the best possible idea of what scope of protection you are most likely to achieve.

  • Patent applications are typically published 18 months after the earliest filing date. This means anyone can read it and object to the patent application.

  • Once requested to do so (and a fee is paid), the IPO will review the application again and provide us with a detailed set of objections with a deadline for response. It is our job to explain those objections to you, and provide our advice on how to respond. There may be only one round of examination, or several.

  • When the IPO is happy that the application meets the requirements of the Patents Act, a patent is granted. Renewal fees must be paid to the IPO to keep the patent in force until it expires. This can be up to 20 years from its filing date.