Guidance and notes on the changes to patents Form 9A
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-the-changes-to-patents-form-9a
(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 1977 (as amended) 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 Form 9A has been revised as set out below.
(e) Patents Form 9A has been amended to remove box 5 which previously gave customers the option of receiving paper copies of cited patent documents. Box 4 now states that the customer will be provided with paper copies of cited non-patent documents.
(f) Note d) on the Form 9A has also been amended to remove references to providing paper copies of patent citations. It now advises customers to access patent documents from Espacenet and confirms that we will continue to send paper copies of cited non-patent documents.
(g) All of the UK Patents Forms (and information about associated fees) are available from our website.
(h) Any queries about these Directions should be addressed to:
Legal Section
Intellectual Property Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1633 814332