Guidance and notes: electronic filing of pending patent application document
Published 10 March 2008
© Crown copyright 2008
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electronic-filing-of-pending-patent-application-documents/guidance-and-notes-electronic-filing-of-pending-patent-application-document
1. Introductory notes
(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 and the Patents Act 1977 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) Where any document is submitted in a form or manner which does not comply with the directions, the comptroller may treat the document as not having been delivered (see section 124A(3) of the Patent Act 1977).
2. Filing forms and documents under the Patents Act 1977
(d) The forms and documents listed in paragraph 8 of the directions can be delivered electronically to the office in two ways:
(i) using the our web filing page.
(ii) using the EPO online services smart card service.
3. Registration
(e) The smart–card service is only available to those who have registered with the office and have the required system specification to run the appropriate software.
(f) Details of the registration procedure for the online filing service can be obtained from the office’s:
IT Helpdesk
Room 2G92
Intellectual Property Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44(0)16 3381 3500
Email: eolf.support@ipo.gov.uk
(g) Details of versions of Microsoft Windows® supported by the office will be issued to the user during the registration procedure, or on request.
(h) The electronic address mentioned in paragraph 15 of the directions is provided to the user by the office as part of the registration process.
4. Paperless filing
(i) No paper confirmation is required for documents delivered online or on digital media, but a paper document containing the information required by paragraph 16 of the directions is required, for the purposes of identification, to accompany electronic documents delivered on digital media.
5. Payment of fees
(j) The appropriate software requires the user to specify a method of payment, a customer account number and a payment reference.
(k) The web interface requires the user to give an account name and number if paying by deposit account, or the full card details (name, number, expiry date and the like) if paying by credit or debit card.
(l) Where a fee has not been paid, or has been paid only in part, then the applicant will be notified by the office of this fact.
6. Enquires and service availability
(m) Helpdesk support for online filing is available between 8:30am and 5pm Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays.
(n) Advance notice of any planned unavailability of online filing due to maintenance is given on the office website and by email to registered users.
(o) 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