UK IPO update on new patent service

The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has announced details of its new patent service which will see the process of applying for a patent dramatically transformed over the next 12 months. 

On Wednesday 7th June the IPO will be hosting a webinar, One IPO Transformation: One Year To Go, that will explain everything that is happening and provide an opportunity to ask questions. Daniel Chew, President of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA), said about the webinar:  “With a number of changes on the horizon, it is important that our members are aware of the IPO’s timelines and how these changes could affect them. So we will urge our members to sign up for the IPO’s ‘One IPO Transformation – One year to go’ webinar next month, which should be a great opportunity to ask questions and get further information about the programme and the advantages it promises.”

In the meantime, here's the update from the UK IPO:

 

Today, the IPO has published a transformation document which sets out what patents customers can expect over the next 12 months, and details of upcoming changes to IPO’s services as part of the One IPO Transformation Programme. There will also be a number of important changes to the IPO’s services ahead of the new service for patents being launched in spring 2024. As part of this, the IPO will develop APIs allowing providers of IP software to seamlessly link their products with IPO’s new systems. This would enable customers to access a range of IPO’s services directly from the IP software they use, resulting in a faster and more streamlined user experience.

In September 2023

The first new ‘One IPO’ service will launch:

·        new patents search service - customers will have far more options in how they search for patents

These include: keywords, owner of the IP right, date of registration, and the status of the IP right.

Customers will be able to save searches, monitor the patents they care about, and build their own patent journal.

In addition, we will begin piloting the new One IPO patents service and will be offering a small number of patents customers early access to the new service.

Customers can express their interest in taking part in the patents pilot by emailing usertesting@ipo.gov.uk.

In spring 2024

The new One IPO patents service will launch for all patents customers. This includes;

·        a new digital patents applications service – submit information in the order that suits you, save and go back to draft applications and see the status of your application at any time

·        a new customer accounts service – manage and track all of your patents in one place. Update your account information online in seconds

·        the first APIs. The first APIs will be made available – allowing providers of IP software to link their products directly to IPO’s new systems. The APIs could allow you to view your portfolio of patents, details of ongoing patent applications, or renew patents from your own IP software

Autumn/Winter 2025

Trade marks and designs services launches; Digital hearings and tribunals service launches.

Changes to services

The new One IPO service will offer lots of benefits for all IPO customers, but there will be some changes to how we do things.

1.     eOLF will be phased out for GB patent applications once our new IPO service has launched. From spring 2024 you will no longer be able to start new international (PCT) patent applications in eOLF. eOLF will still be available for new GB patent applications and ongoing PCT applications before a further three months, for being disabled for UK IPO filings in summer 2024.

2.     There will be changes to how customers submit patent applications. Attachments will have to be submitted in ODT or DocX format and patent specifications will have to be split into separate documents.

3.     Customers will have the option to designate super administrators for their organisation. They will have responsibility for creating or removing IPO accounts within the organisation. They will also be able to control who within the organisation can view what client information or applications.

4.     We will be changing all of our paper forms to reflect the new digital service.

Details of these changes, the reasons for them and the benefits they will bring are available in our Transformation document.

The Intellectual Property Office’s Chief Executive and Comptroller-General Adam Williams, said: “2023 is the year that transformation becomes real as we deliver our first patent module. Now is the time to look at the changes that are coming, understand how they will affect your organisation and work with us to smoothly transition to the new service."