Award
The 8 recommendations relating to the award of the IP system and the implementation timeline.
| Recommendation | Implementation timeline |
|---|---|
| Recommendation 18: The Government should encourage the European Patent Office (EPO) to pursue work sharing with the USPTO and JPO. | EPO has signed an agreement with the USPTO and intends to undertake trial of work sharing with Japan. |
| Recommendation 19: The Patent Office should pursue work sharing arrangements with EPC member states, and trilaterally with the USA and Japan to reduce cross-national duplication of effort. | Work sharing agreement signed and commenced with Japan and US. Pilot project with EPO ongoing. |
| Recommendation 20: Continue to support and expedite the establishment of a single Community Patent through negotiations in Europe. | Recommendation dependent on EU negotiations. |
| Recommendation 21: Government should support the London Agreement as an interim step towards COMPAT, and as an improvement in its own right. | The London Agreement entered into force on 1 May. |
| Recommendation 22: Maintain a high quality of patents awarded by increasing the use of ‘section 21’ observations: streamlining procedures and raising awareness. | Improved web-interface for making observations being implemented on IPO website. |
| Recommendation 23: The Patent Office should conduct a pilot of Beth Noveck’s Community Patent Review in 2007 in the UK to determine whether this would have a positive impact on the quality of the patent stock. | UK version of peer-to-patent website being developed to launch in 2008. |
| Recommendation 24: The Patent Office should develop stronger links with universities and other research institutions, including through short placements, to ensure that IP examiners are aware of recent developments in technology. | Training and Development Unit have negotiated standing arrangements with 3 local universities. Examiners can attend relevant modules to keep up to date of recent developments in their area of science and technology. |
| Recommendation 25a: Introduce accelerated grant process for patents to complement the accelerated examination and combined patent search and examination procedures. | Consultation closed; proposals for new fast-track service not welcomed; options have been reviewed and further discussed with Patent Practice Working Group on 1 July 2008. |
| Recommendation 25b: Introduce fast track registration for trade marks. | Introduced in April 2008. |
