Observations about patentability

Observations allow you to comment on whether we should grant a patent for a particular invention. For example, you can tell us if you think the invention is not new, because the inventor, or others, have previously sold or disclosed it.

You must make observations after we publish a patent, but before we grant it, this gives you at least 3 months.

Find patents you want to make observations on

You can view published United Kingdom (UK) patent applications using our databases, or inspect the file at our offices in Newport or London.

The numbers of recently published patent applications appear in the Patents and Designs Journal in Proceedings under the Patents Act, Applications Published.

Check your observations are new

Check your observations are new, by checking the search report and file of the application for observations and other comments.

Make observations

You must send your observations to us, with supporting evidence.

What happens next?

If you have given us your name and address, we will tell you that we have received your observations.

We will add your observations to the file for the patent, which is available to the public, and we will send a copy to the applicant.

We will consider your observations when we decide whether to grant the patent. If we make objections based on your observations, the patent applicant may respond to the arguments. You cannot be involved in discussion between the examiner and the applicant, even if they relate to your observations.