Statutory guidance

Amendments made 18 April 2008: patents forms 20 and 54

Updated 6 March 2020

1. Directions under section 123(2A) of the Patents Act 1977

1.1 Patents forms 20 and 54

1. The comptroller has made these directions under section 123(2A) of the Patents Act 1977.


2. These directions set out some changes to the forms whose use is required by rules.


3. These directions come into force on 1 May 2008.


4. The following patents forms as set out in the Schedule to these directions are the forms the use of which is required by the Patents Rules 2007 (SI 2007/3291):
   
   - Patents form 20 (Request to correct a name or address)
   
   - Patents form 54 (Filing a translation in connection with a European patent or a European patent application).


5. Patents forms 20 and 54, as so set out, replace the corresponding forms in the Schedule to the directions made on 5 December 2007 (which came into force on 17 December 2007). The directions made on 5 December 2007 are, to that extent, revoked.

Ian Fletcher
Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks
18 April 2008

2. Guidance and notes on the Directions given under section 123(2A)

2.1 Patents forms 20 and 54

(a) These notes are not part of the directions. They are intended to provide background and additional information.

(b) The Interpretation Act 1978 applies to these directions. Therefore, all the definitions set out in the Patents Act apply to these directions. Further, amongst other things, generally any words importing the masculine gender include the feminine and words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular.

(c) Section 123(2A) of the Patents Act allows the comptroller to give directions specifying any forms the use of which is required by the Patents Rules.

(d) Patents forms 20 and 54 have been revised as set out below.

2.2 Form 20 (Request to correct a name or address)

(e) A new section 4 has been added which requires the applicant to select one of two options to indicate the type of correction that is being requested. This change has been made to facilitate more efficient processing of the form within the office.

2.3 Form 54 (Filing a translation in connection with a European patent or a European patent application)

(f) A revised form is necessary from 1 May 2008 as part of the coming into force of the London Agreement on the application of Article 65 of the European Patent Convention, which affects the requirement to provide translations of European patents (‘the London Agreement’). Section 77(6) of the Patents Act 1977 sets out the requirement to file a translation of a European patent granted or amended in French or German in order for the patent or amendment to have effect in the UK by virtue of sections 77(1) and 77(4) respectively. Rule 56 of the Patents Rules 2007 provides that section 77(6) ceases to have effect on the day of coming into force of the London Agreement. Form 54 is therefore revised to reflect the fact that a translation of a granted patent or an amended patent is no longer required. All other previous uses of form 54 remain unchanged.

(g) All of the UK patents forms (and information about associated fees) are available on our website.

(h) Any queries about these directions should be addressed to:

Intellectual Property Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom

Telephone: +44(0)30 0300 2000
Telephone: +44(0)16 3381 4000
Minicom: +44(0)30 0020 0015