Patents Act 2004 - Explanatory Notes

1. Introduction

2. Summary

3. Background

   1. The European Patent Convention

   2. Domestic issues – the enforcement of patent rights and updating of the 1977 Act

   3. The Patent Co-operation Treaty

   4. The Patent Law Treaty and the Regulatory Reform (Patents) Order 2004

   5. Consultation on matters in the Act

4. Overview of the Act

5. Territorial Application

6. Commentary on Sections

   1. Section 1 – Methods of treatment or diagnosis

   2. Section 2 – Amendment of patents after grant

   3. Section 3 – Relief for partially valid patent

   4. Section 4 – Revocation

   5. Section 5 – Further amendments relating to international obligations

   6. Schedule 1paragraphs 2, 3 and 4

   7. Schedule 1paragraph 5

   8. Schedule 1paragraph 6; Schedule 2paragraphs 12, 13, 20-22, 25(c), 25(d) and 27

   9. Schedule 1paragraph 7 and paragraph 9, sub-paragraphs (2)(a) and (3)

   10. Schedule 1paragraph 8

   11. Schedule 1paragraph 9, sub-paragraph (2)(b)

   12. Schedule 1paragraph 9, sub-paragraph (4)

   13. Section 6 – Remedies in entitlement proceedings

   14. Section 7 – Restrictions on applications abroad by United Kingdom residents

   15. Section 8 – Term of patent and periods allowed for payment of renewal fees

   16. Section 9 – Co-ownership

   17. Section 10 – Compensation of employees for certain inventions

   18. Section 11 – Enforcement of damages

   19. Section 12 – Threats of infringement proceedings

   20. Section 13 – Opinions by Patent Office as to validity or infringement

   21. Section 14 – Costs and expenses in infringement proceedings

   22. Section 15 – Security for costs

   23. Section 16 – Amendments, repeals and revocations

   24. Schedule 2paragraph 6

   25. Schedule 2paragraphs 7 and 23

   26. Schedule 2paragraph 8

   27. Schedule 2paragraph 9

   28. Schedule 2paragraph 11

   29. Schedule 2paragraphs 14, 16, 17 and 28

   30. Schedule 2paragraph 15

   31. Schedule 2paragraph 18

   32. Schedule 2paragraph 19

   33. Schedule 2paragraph 24 and paragraph 26, sub-paragraph (3)

   34. Schedule 2paragraphs 25(a) and 25(b)

   35. Schedule 2paragraph 26, sub-paragraph (2)

   36. Schedule 2paragraph 26, sub-paragraph (4)

   37. Section 17 – Commencement

   38. Section 18 – Short title and extent

7. Commencement

8. Hansard References