Making observations

You can only file observations after we have published a patent application and before we grant it. It is therefore recommended that you file any observations within three months after the application has been published, as we may grant a patent after this period. If you file observations after we grant a patent, we cannot respond to them but we will send them to the patent owner and place them on the patent file, which is available to the public.

You must make your observations in writing, either in hard copy or electronically, to the address provided below.

You should include the patent application number (for example GB0154321.0) or the publication number if you know it (for example GB2765432), and the name of the applicant.

You should also support your observations with evidence wherever possible. For example, you could provide a dated magazine or journal article which shows the invention before the application’s earliest filing date. If you claim that something is well known in the industry, you must show that this was the case before the application’s earliest filing date.

We will add your observations to the file for the patent, which is available to the public and on our website, and we will send a copy to the applicant.

Send us your observations

Send your observations and supporting evidence to:

Intellectual Property Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom

Or e-mail them to us at section21@ipo.gov.uk