http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/37/section/56Patents Act 1977An Act to establish a new law of patents applicable to future patents and applications for patents; to amend the law of patents applicable to existing patents and applications for patents; to give effect to certain international conventions on patents; and for connected purposes.1979-04-30texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-02-20Expert Participation2025-01-01 Patents Act 1977s. 63(3)(a)Patents Act 2004s. 2(4)s. 17(1)Patents Act 1977s. 63(3)(b) and wordPatents Act 2004s. 2(4)s. 17(1)Patents Act 1977s. 56(4)(a)(iiia) and wordThe Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 (Consequential Modifications) (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) Order 2006Sch. para. 2(b)art. 1(2)(b)Patents Act 1977s. 56(4)(a)(i)The Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 (Consequential Modifications) (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) Order 2006Sch. para. 2(a)art. 1(2)(b) Part I561Any reference in section 55 above to a patented invention, in relation to any time, is a reference to an invention for which a patent has before that time been, or is subsequently, granted.2In this Act, except so far as the context otherwise requires, “the services of the Crown” includes—athe supply of anything for foreign defence purposes;bthe production or supply of specified drugs and medicines; andcsuch purposes relating to the production or use of atomic energy or research into matters connected therewith as the Secretary of State thinks necessary or expedient;and “use for the services of the Crown” shall be construed accordingly.3In section 55(1)(a) above and subsection (2)(a) above, references to a sale or supply of anything for foreign defence purposes are references to a sale or supply of the thing—ato the government of any country outside the United Kingdom, in pursuance of an agreement or arrangement between Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the government of that country, where the thing is required for the defence of that country or of any other country whose government is party to any agreement or arrangement with Her Majesty’s Government in respect of defence matters; orbto the United Nations, or to the government of any country belonging to that organisation, in pursuance of an agreement or arrangement between Her Majesty’s Government and that organisation or government, where the thing is required for any armed forces operating in pursuance of a resolution of that organisation or any organ of that organisation.4For the purposes of section 55(1)(a) and (c) above and subsection (2)(b) above, specified drugs and medicines are drugs and medicines which are both—arequired for the provision of—aiprimary medical services under the National Health Service Act 2006, the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, Part 1 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 or any corresponding provisions of the law in force in Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man or primary dental services under the National Health Service Act 2006, the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 , or any corresponding provisions of the law in force in Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, oripharmaceutical services, general medical services or general dental services under Chapter 1 of Part 7 of the National Health Service Act 2006 or Chapter 1 of Part 7 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (in the case of pharmaceutical services) , Part II of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (in the case of pharmaceutical services or general dental services), or the corresponding provisions of the law in force in Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, oriipersonal medical services or personal dental services provided in accordance with arrangements made under ... section 17C of the 1978 Act (in the case of personal dental services) , or the corresponding provisions of the law in force in Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, oriiilocal pharmaceutical services provided under a pilot scheme established under section 134 of the National Health Service Act 2006, or section 92 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, or an LPS scheme established under Schedule 12 to the National Health Service Act 2006, or Schedule 7 to the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, or under any corresponding provision of the law in force in the Isle of Manand,bspecified for the purposes of this subsection in regulations made by the Secretary of State.Words in s. 56(4)(a) substituted for s. 56(4)(a)(i)(ii) and words immediately preceding them (1.4.1998) by 1997 c. 46, s. 41(10), Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 2; S.I. 1998/631, art. 2(1)(b), Sch. 2 (subject to art. 3, 4, 5)S. 56(4)(a)(iii) and preceding word inserted (1.7.2002 for W. and 1.1.2003 for E.) by 2001 c. 15, ss. 67, 70, Sch. 5 para. 4; S.I. 2002/1475, art. 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1; S.I. 2003/53, art. 2(a) Words in s. 56(4)(a)(i) inserted (1.4.2004) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), s. 199(1)(4), Sch. 11 para. 6(3); S.I. 2004/288, art. 5(2)(d) (with art. 7) (as amended by S.I. 2004/866 and S.I. 2005/2925); S.I. 2004/480, art. 4(2)(d) (with art. 6) (as amended by S.I. 2004/1019 and S.I. 2006/345)Words in s. 56(4)(a)(i) inserted (1.4.2004) by Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/957), art. 1, Sch. para. 2(b)Words in s. 56(4)(a)(ii) repealed (1.4.2004) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), s. 199(1)(4), Sch. 11 para. 6(4), Sch. 14 Pt. 4; S.I. 2004/288, arts. 5(2)(d), 6(2)(c) (with art. 7) (as amended by S.I. 2004/866 and S.I. 2005/2925); S.I. 2004/480, arts. 4(2)(d), 5(2)(c) (with art. 6) (as amended by S.I. 2004/1019 and S.I. 2006/345)Words in s. 56(4)(a)(ii) inserted (1.4.2004) by Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/957), art. 1, Sch. para. 2(c)S. 56(4)(a)(ai) inserted (1.4.2004) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), s. 199(1)(4), Sch. 11 para. 6(2); S.I. 2004/288, art. 5(2)(d) (with art. 7) (as amended by S.I. 2004/866 and S.I. 2005/2925); S.I. 2004/480, art. 4(2)(d) (with art. 6) (as amended by S.I. 2004/1019 and S.I. 2006/345))Words in s. 56(4)(a)(ai) inserted (1.4.2004) by Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/957), art. 1, Sch. para. 2(a)Words in s. 56(4)(a)(ai) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), s. 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 58(a) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)Words in s. 56(4)(a)(i) substituted (1.3.2007) by virtue of National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), s. 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 58(b) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)Words in s. 56(4)(a)(iii) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), s. 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 58(c)(i) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)Words in s. 56(4)(a)(iii) substituted (1.3.2007) by virtue of National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), s. 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 58(c)(ii) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)