The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) has launched a consultation on plans to reduce the length of time it takes to process patent and trade mark applications. The purpose of the consultation is to invite comments on proposals that were put forward in the Gowers Report on intellectual property. As part of the review’s recommendations, patent applications should be fast-tracked for a fee of between £400 and £600. At the moment there is no procedure for fast-tracking trade mark registrations. The Gowers Report wants to see a system introduced that, for a payment of £300, would cut the time it takes to examine a trade mark application from the usual 4 to 6 weeks to just 10 days. Lord Triesman, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Intellectual Property and Quality, said: “I welcome this consultation on proposed new fast-track services for processing patent and trade mark applications. The proposals provide important new tools for businesses - both large and small - in providing fast track routes to the grant of a patent or the registration of a trade mark. I look forward to hearing the views of interested parties on the proposed services.” Ian Fletcher, who is chief executive of the UK-IPO, added: “The proposed fast-track services help applicants for patents and trade marks that choose to use the system get an early decision on their patent or trade mark.” Date:25 September 2007
Content by: Made Simple Group
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