Buying and licencing patents

You may be able to use or buy other people's patents.

If you want to use other people’s patents, you usually need permission. If you use patented inventions without permission, you are infringing the patent and the owner can take legal action against you and claim damages.

If you want to use a patented invention, you can approach the owner to agree a licence with them.

Buying other people's patents

If you buy or acquire a patent, there are benefits to telling us that you are the new owner so that we can record the change of ownership on the register of patents. This includes any change of ownership as a result of company mergers. The legal term for a transfer of ownership is an assignment.

Licensing

You may be able to get a license allowing you to manufacture, use, sell or import a patented product or process.

Freedom to operate search

There are many products and processes, some in common use, some not, which are protected by a patent. When you develop your own ideas into something commercial, how can you be sure that elements of your product or the process that you want to use aren't already patent protected by someone else?