Guidance

Patents Formalities manual

Guidance on the procedures the Intellectual Property Office follows when examining the formalities of patent applications.

Documents

Formalities Manual (online version)

Details

This manual provides detailed guidance practice and procedures we follow in formalities examination of patent applications under the Patents Act 1977 and associated rules. It covers UK patent applications and the national phase of Patent Co-operation Treaty applications.

Updates to this page

Published 8 July 2014
Last updated 31 March 2017 + show all updates
  1. Formalities Manual (online version) added.

  2. Chapter 8 updated (Aug 2014)

  3. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page