Guidance and notes on patent forms
Updated 6 March 2020
© Crown copyright 2020
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/directions-under-section-1232a-of-the-patents-act-1977/guidance-and-notes-on-patent-forms
1. Patents forms
(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 that 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) The forms have been amended in line with the Patents Rules 2007. The ‘/77’ part of the form numbers has been dropped, Forms 11/77, 53/77 and 58/77 have been abolished and a new form SP4 has been introduced.
(e) All of the UK patents forms (and information about associated fees) are available on our website.
(f) 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