All units Flashcards
What is meant by search?
Patent examiner searches the invention for prior art. The prior art indicates the patentability of the invention and is then reviewed to determine if the applicant wishes to proceed with the application.
What are the required contents of a patent application?
- Any necessary forms
- Specification made up of:
- Description
- Claims
- Abstract
- Drawings
What is meant by publication?
The content of the application is disclosed to the public.
What is a patent?
A monopoly granted to an inventor by a state for a fixed period of time in exchange for devising and disclosing the invention.
What is examination?
The examiner reviews the prior art, comments on the patentability of the invention, raises objections and provides the application opportunity to respond to their objections.
What is meant by maintenance?
Renewal fees must be paid to keep the patent in force. These are usually due annually and increase in cost each year.
What is meant by filing a patent application?
The application is filed at a patent office in the name of the inventor or applicant and given and application number and filing date.
What is a patent term?
The patent term refers to the fixed period of time for which the patent can be enforced (usually 20 years). Once this period ends the monopoly ceases and the invention can be used freely.
Explain ‘Duty of Care’
The reasonable person in the situation should act with watchfulness, attention, caution and prudence towards others and the general public.
What are the advantages of the patent system?
- Encourages technological advancement and growth of wealth.
- Gives inventors incentive to innovate.
- Allows inventors to recover research and development costs.
- Has created a vast library of technical information.
- inventions must be disclosed to the public.
Define priority period.
The 12 month period within which overseas applications must be field inf the filing date of the first filing is to be relied upon for patentability.
What is prior art?
Anything published prior the filing date or earliest priority date of the application disclosing similar or existing inventions. Prior art usually consists of patent specifications or sometimes non-patent literature or journal articles.
What happens when a patent is granted?
The patent specification is re-published to include any amendments made during examination and the patent can now be enforced.
What are the minimum requirements for obtaining a filing date for a GB patent application?
- Description or reference to an earlier filed application.
- Indication a patent is sought.
- Details of the applicant sufficient for the UKIPO to contact them.
- Drawings is mention in description.
What is the deadline for requesting search on a GB patent application?
- 12 months from filing date;
OR
Late of;-
- 12 months from earliest priority
- 2 months from filing date
Can the request for search deadline be extended at the UKIPO?
Yes. By 2 months with a form 52 and a fee.
What action must be taken to request search at the UKIPO?
- File form 9A
- Pay search fee
- Pay any excess claims fees for claims over 25
When does publication take place on a GB patent application?
18 months from earliest priority.
When are additional searches due on a GB patent application?
3 months before the compliance date.
What actions must be taken to request further searches on a GB patent application?
- File form 9A for each additional invention the Applicant wants searched.
- Pay search fee for each additional invention
- Identify which claims are to be searched.
What is the deadline for requesting examination on a GB patent application?
6 months from publication date.
What actions must be taken to request examination on a GB patent application?
- File form 10
- Pay examination fee
- Pay excess page fees for any pages over 35.
Is the deadline for requesting examination on GB patent application extendable?
Yes. By 2 months with a form 52 and a fee.
What is the acceptance deadline on the GB patent application?
Later of:-
- 4 and a half years from earliest priority date
- 12 months from date of first examination report.
What happens if a GB patent application is not in order by the acceptance date?
The application is refused.
Is the acceptance deadline extendable on a GB patent application?
Yes. By 2 months with a form 52 and a fee.
When are grant fees due on a GB patent application?
2 months from grant date when any excess page or claim fees are payable.
Is the grant fee deadline extendable on a GB patent application?
Yes. By 2 months with a form 52 and a fee.
When is the first renewal fee due on a GB patent application assuming no late grant?
On the last day of the month containing the 4th anniversary of the filing date.
When is the first renewal fee due on a late grant GB patent application?
On the last day of the month three months from the date of grant.
When can renewal fees validly be paid on a GB patent application?
On a granted patent 3 months before the fee is due until the last day of the month 6 months after it is due.
What happends if an international application is filed in a non-official language of the RO?
The RO is not a competent receiving office and the application will be forwarded to the IB and the original international filiung date is maintained.
What is the latest date for requesting an extension of the acceptance deadline without relying on the discretion of the UKIPO?
2 months after the acceptance deadline.
When are formal drawings due on a GB patent application?
15 months from earliest priority date.
What could delay publication on a GB patent application?
- Late preparation of the search report by the UKIPO.
- Late filing of the formal drawings.
What are the advantagages of paying a GB renewal fee as soon as possible after the due date?
The first month after the due date is free. After this there is a 50% surcharge on top of the fee for earch month it is overdue.
What are the advantages of filing a PCT application?
- Convenience; 1 application covers 152 countries and regions.
- Postpones the major costs involved national and regional filing.
- More easily able to make corrections through a single office.
- Can save time during national and regional prosecution.
What are the minimum requirements for obtaining a filing date on a PCT?
- Right to file; at least one applicant is a resident or national of a PCT contracting state.
- Applicant details.
- Description
- Claims
- Designate at least one PCT contracting state.
- Indication that an international application is sought.
When must the international searching authority be the EPO?
When the receiving office is either the UKIPO, EPO or the IB and all Applicants are EPC nationals.
When is the supplementary search request due on a PCT?
22 Months from earliest priority date.