The Patents Rules 2007

Renewal

Renewal of patents: general

36.—(1) In this rule and in rules 37 to 41—

“renewal date” has the meaning given in rules 37(2) to (4) and 38(3);

“renewal fee” means the fee prescribed in respect of a renewal date;

“renewal period” means the period prescribed by rule 37 or 38 for the payment of a renewal fee.

(2) If the renewal fee is not paid before the end of the renewal period, the patent shall cease to have effect at the end of the renewal date.

(3) Patents Form 12 must be filed before the end of the renewal period.

(4) But where payment is made under section 25(4) or section 28(3), Patents Form 12 must accompany the renewal fee and the prescribed additional fee.

(5) On receipt of the renewal fee the comptroller must issue a certificate of payment.

Renewal of patents: first renewal

37.—(1) This rule prescribes the period for the payment of a renewal fee in respect of the first renewal date.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4)—

(a) the first renewal date is the fourth anniversary of the date of filing; and

(b) the renewal period is three months ending with the last day of the month in which that renewal date falls.

(3) Where a patent is granted under the Act during the period of three months ending with the fourth anniversary of the date of filing, or at any time after that anniversary—

(a) the first renewal date is the last day of the period of three months beginning with the date on which the patent was granted; and

(b) the renewal period begins with the date on which the patent was granted and ends with the last day of the month in which that renewal date falls.

(4) Where the grant of a patent is mentioned in the European Patent Bulletin during the period of three months ending with the fourth anniversary of the date of filing, or at any time after that anniversary—

(a) the first renewal date is the later of—

(i) the last day of the period of three months beginning with the date on which the grant of the patent was mentioned in the European Patent Bulletin (case A), or

(ii) the next anniversary of the date of filing to fall after the date on which the grant of the patent was so mentioned (case B); and

(b) the renewal period is—

(i) in case A, the period beginning with the date on which the grant of the patent was mentioned in the European Patent Bulletin and ending with the last day of the month in which the first renewal date falls, or

(ii) in case B, three months ending with the last day of the month in which the first renewal date falls.

Renewal of patents: subsequent renewals

38.—(1) This rule prescribes the period for the payment of a renewal fee in respect of renewal dates subsequent to the first renewal date.

(2) The renewal period is three months ending with the last day of the month in which the renewal date falls.

(3) For those purposes—

(a) the second renewal date is the next anniversary of the date of filing to fall after the first renewal date; and

(b) each subsequent renewal date is the anniversary of the previous renewal date.

Renewal notice

39.—(1) This rule applies where the renewal fee has not been received by the end of the renewal period.

(2) The comptroller must, before the end of the period of six weeks beginning immediately after the end of the renewal period, and if the fee remains unpaid, send a renewal notice to the proprietor of the patent.

(3) The comptroller must send the renewal notice to—

(a) the address specified by the proprietor on payment of the last renewal fee (or to another address that has since been notified to him for that purpose by the proprietor); or

(b) where such an address has not been so specified or notified, the address for service entered in the register.

(4) The renewal notice must remind the proprietor of the patent—

(a) that payment is overdue; and

(b) of the consequences of non-payment.

Restoration of lapsed patents under section 28

40.—(1) An application under section 28 for restoration of a patent may be made at any time before the end of the period ending with the thirteenth month after the month in which the period specified in section 25(4) ends.

(2) The application must be made on Patents Form 16.

(3) The notice of the application must be published in the journal.

(4) The applicant must file evidence in support of the application.

(5) If that evidence does not accompany the application, the comptroller must specify a period within which the evidence shall be filed.

(6) If, on consideration of that evidence, the comptroller is not satisfied that a case for an order under section 28 has been made out, he must notify the applicant accordingly.

(7) The applicant may, before the end of the period of one month beginning with the date of that notification, request to be heard by the comptroller.

(8) If the applicant requests a hearing, the comptroller must give the applicant an opportunity to be heard before he determines whether to grant or refuse the application under section 28.

(9) Where the comptroller grants the application he must advertise the fact in the journal.

Notification of lapsed patent

41.—(1) This rule applies where—

(a) a patent has ceased to have effect because a renewal fee has not been paid by the end of the renewal period; and

(b) the renewal fee and the prescribed additional fee have not been paid by the end of the period specified in section 25(4) (“the extended period”).

(2) The comptroller must, before the end of the period of six weeks beginning immediately after the end of the extended period, send a notice to the proprietor of the patent—

(a) stating that the extended period has expired; and

(b) referring him to the provisions of section 28.

(3) The comptroller must send the notice to the address specified by rule 39(3).