New Fast Track Patent Processing Plans Put On Hold In UK

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

04 December 2008

The newly re-branded UK Intellectual Property Office on Monday published responses to its consultation on a proposed new fast-track patent application processing system.

A new single process for fast tracking the processing of a patent application was proposed in the consultation document where, for an additional fee of GBP400-GBP600, Office actions would be fast-tracked so that a patent could be granted within a year from the date of filing. The new fast track system was to encompass the existing Combined Search and Examination (CSE) service, which would no longer have been available as part of the normal service.

The IPO explained that:

"Responses to the proposed new fast track system for processing patent applications were mixed. Overall there was greater support for retaining a system along the lines of our current accelerated services than for a system similar to that proposed in the consultation document. Some did however comment that there was a lack of awareness of our existing services."

It went on to reveal that in the light of the responses, a fast track system for processing patent applications in the terms proposed in the consultation document will not be introduced.

Instead, the Intellectual Property Office will clarify and give more prominence to guidance in relation to existing accelerated services for patents.

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