(1)In section 118 of the Patents Act 1977 (information on patent applications etc.), in subsection (3), after paragraph (a) (but before the following “or”) insert—
“(aa)sending any patent office outside the United Kingdom such information about unpublished applications for patents as that office requests;”.
(2)After that subsection insert—
“(3A)Information may not be sent to a patent office in reliance on subsection (3)(aa) otherwise than in accordance with the working arrangements that the comptroller has made for that purpose with that office.
(3B)Those arrangements must include provision for ensuring that the confidentiality of information of the kind referred to in subsection (3)(aa) sent by the comptroller to the patent office in question is protected.”
(3)After subsection (3B) insert—
“(3C)The reference in subsection (3)(aa) to a patent office is to an organisation which carries out, in relation to patents, functions of the kind carried out at the Patent Office.”
Commencement Information
I1S. 18 in force at 1.10.2014 by S.I. 2014/2330, art. 3, Sch. (with art. 7)