Using somebody else's intellectual property

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Patents

Contact the owner of the patent to see if they’ll:

  • license it to you
  • sell it to you

Search the patent databases to find the current owner.

Licensing

Any licence arrangement, including cost, is made directly between you and the patent owner.

You can ask Intellectual Property Office (IPO) for help to resolve patent disputes if you can’t reach an agreement.

IPO can’t decide the exact terms of the licence (for example the price) but can decide:

  • what can and can’t be part of a licence
  • if the patent owner must grant you a licence (known as a ‘compulsory licence under a patent’)

Licence of right

A patent with ‘licence of right’, means that the patent owners will give anyone a licence to use it.

You must still agree with the owner on the terms of the licence before you can use the patent.

You can ask IPO for help if you can’t reach agreement.

Registering your licence

Register a licence agreement (or changes to an existing licence, for example cancellation) by filling in Patents form 21. Send it to the address on the form.

You can use the form to record licences on more than one patent. It costs £50 for each form you submit.

Buying a patent

When someone sells you a patent they must transfer ownership to you.

You need a written document to record the transfer. This is known as an ‘assignment’ and must be signed by the person selling the patent.

A solicitor can help you draw up this document.

Fill in Patents form 21 and return it to the address on the form. Include a copy of your assignment.

You can use the form to record licences on more than one patent. It costs £50 for each form you submit.