GB patent questions (series 1) Flashcards
A UK application was filed on 15/11/2023 and did not claim priority.
What is the deadline for requesting search and what patent form must be used?
Search fee is due 12 months from the filing date.
15/11/2023 + 12 months = 15/11/2024
So, the search is due on 15/11/2024
The search should be filed using PF9a
What are the official languages of the UKIPO
English and Welsh
A UK application was filed on 08/09/2023 and did not claim priority. The search report was issued 22/11/2023.
What is the deadline for filing formal drawings?
Formal drawings are due 15 months from filing date.
08/09/2023 + 15 months = 08/12/2024
So, the formal drawings filing deadline is 08/12/2024
A UK application was filed 06/08/2020 and did not claim priority. The date of the first examination report was issued on 23/05/2023.
When is the compliance deadline?
The compliance deadline is the later of 4 1/2 years from the filing date or 1 year from first examination report.
Filing date - 06/08/2020 + 4 1/2 years = 06/02/2025
Exam report date - 23/05/2023 + 1 year = 23/05/2024
So, the compliance deadline is 06/02/2025
A UK application is filed on 18/03/2024 and did not claim any priority.
Give the deadline for these following actions (assuming they were not completed on filing)
a) Filing Abstract
b) Filing Patents Form 7
a) The abstract is due 12 months from the filing date.
18/03/2024 + 12 months = 18/03/2025
So, the abstract is due 18/03/2025
b) PF7 is due 16 months from the filing date.
18/03/2024 + 16 months = 18/07/2025
So, the PF7 is due 18/07/2025
A UK application was filed on 24/05/2023 and claimed priority from various applications. The case was published on 16/06/2024.
What is the deadline for requesting Examination and what patent form must be used?
Examination is due 6 months from publication date.
16/06/2024 + 6 months = 16/12/2024
so, request for examination is due 16/12/2024
The request for examination should be filed using PF10.
A UK application was filed on 10/05/2022, claiming an earliest priority of 12/05/2021.
A combined search and examination report was issued on 07/01/2023.
What is the divisional deadline?
The divisional deadline is 3 months before the compliance date. So, we need to work out the compliance deadline first…
The compliance deadline is due the later of:
a) 4 1/2 years from the earliest priority date or
b) 12 months from the first examination report
12/05/2021 + 4 1/2 years = 12/11/2025
07/01/2023 + 12 months = 07/01/2024
So, the compliance deadline is 12/11/2025
Divisional is due 3 months before the compliance deadline.
12/11/2025 - 3 months = 12/08/2025
So, the divisional deadline is 12/08/2025
A UK patent application has been filed with the description and claims in German.
For the description and claims, what will be required and by when to maintain the application?
The two official languages at the UKIPO are English and Welsh.
To maintain the patent application, a translation into English or Welsh must be filed within 2 months of an invitation from the UKIPO.
What are the minimum filing requirements for obtaining a GB filing date?
1) Indication a GB patent is sought (or PF1)
2) Description or reference to an earlier filed application
3) Applicant details
4) Drawings (if application contains drawings)
A UK application was filed on 12/09/20234and claimed priority from the following applications:
US 12/09/2023 62/104856
NZ 08/11/2023 NZ451
a) What is the deadline for filing a Certified copy of 62/104856?
b) What is the deadline for filing a Certified copy of NZ451?
ALL Certified copies are due 16 months from the earliest priority date.
a) 12/09/2023 + 16 months = 12/01/2025
b) 12/09/2023 + 16 months = 12/01/2025
So the deadline for filing both certified copies is 12/01/2025
A patent application is filed at the UKIPO on 20/09/2024, claiming an earliest priority date of 20/09/2023.
What is the deadline for filing Designation of Inventor and what patent form must be used?
Deadline for filing Designation of Inventor is 16 months from the earliest priority.
20/09/2023 + 16 months = 20/01/2025
So the Designation of Inventor is due 20/01/2025
The Designation of Inventor should be filed using PF7
A UK application is filed on 20/07/2022, claiming an earlier priority date of 21/07/2021.
A combined search and examination report was issued on 05/10/2023 and a response filed on 09/02/2024. The UKIPO issued a further examination report on 15/08/2023.
a)What is the compliance deadline?
b)What is the divisional deadline?
a) The compliance deadline is due the later of:
4 1/2 from the earliest priority date or
12 months from the first examination report
21/07/2021 + 4 1/2 years = 21/01/2026
05/10/2023 + 12 months = 05/10/2024
So the compliance deadline is 21/01/2026
b) The divisional deadline is 3 months before the compliance date
21/01/2026 - 3 months = 21/10/2025
So the divisional deadline is 21/10/2025
A GB patent application is filed in the name of the sole inventor.
Is it necessary to file a PF7 at the UKIPO?
No - if the PF1 indicates that the applicant is the sole inventor, you don’t need to file a PF7
A UK application was filed on 23/08/2025. The specification consisted of: :
- 42 pages of description,
- 29 claims on 6 pages,
- 1 page of abstract, and
- 12 figures on 6 pages of drawings.
a) How many excess claims fees will need to be paid when requesting search?
b) How many excess pages fees will be due when requesting examination?
a) Excess claims fees are payable for each claim in excess of 25 (i.e. from 26th onwards)
29 claims - 25 claims = 4 claims
So, 4 claims fees are payable
b) Additional page fees are payable for each page of the description in excess of 35 (i.e. from 36th onwards)
42 pages - 35 pages = 7 pages
So 7 page fees are payable
A UK application was filed on 05/09/2024 and claimed priority from an application filed on 18/10/2023. You did not have a description, so the UK application was filed using filing by reference to the priority application.
What is the deadline for filing the description?
The description must be filed the later of:
a) 2 months from the filing date or
b) 12 months from the priority date
05/09/2024 + 2 months = 05/11/2024
18/10/2023 + 12 months = 18/10/2024
So, the description is due 05/11/2024
