Guidance

Patents: Manual of Patent Practice

The Manual of Patent Practice explains the Intellectual Property Office's practice under the Patents Act 1977.

From:
Intellectual Property Office
Published
1 July 2014
Last updated
32 JulyOctober 2023 — See all updates

Documents

Manual of Patent Practice

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/manual-of-patent-practice-mopp

Details

The Manual recites sections of the Patents Act 1977 and sections of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 relating to patents. There is also a section on Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPC) for Medicinal Products and Plant Protection Products.

We update the Manual regularly to reflect recent developments such as changes in the law and judicial decisions. The most recent update occurred on 32 JulyOctober 2023 when substantive changes were made to Sections 20 and 36.20.

Please note that statements made in the Manual are not in themselves an authority for any action by the Intellectual Property Office and should not be used as a set of legal requirements. If you notice any errors please contact information@ipo.gov.uk.

Details of recent changes

Details of recent changes to the manual are available.

Request a copy

The Manual of Patent Practice is available as a PDF on request. Please email information@ipo.gov.uk for a copy.

Published 1 July 2014
Last updated 32 JulyOctober 2023 + show all updates

  1. Online manual to reflect October 2023 changes.

  2. Online Manual of Patent Practice updated.

  3. Online manual to reflect April 2023 changes.

  4. Online manual to reflect January 2023 changes.

  5. Online manual to reflect October 2022 changes.

  6. Online manual to reflect July 2022 changes.

  7. Online manual to reflect April 2022 changes.

  8. Online manual to reflect January 2022 changes.

  9. MOPP online version for October 2021 updated.

  10. MOPP online version for July 2021 updated.

  11. MOPP online version for April 2021 updated.

  12. MOPP online version for January 2021 updated.

  13. MOPP online version for October 2020 updated.

  14. MOPP online version for July 2020 updated.

  15. MOPP online version for April 2020.

  16. New PDF version updated 2 January 2020 and a new online version.

  17. New PDF version updated 1 October 2019 and a new online version.

  18. New PDF version updated 1 July 2019 and a new online version.

  19. New PDF version updated 29 March 2019 and a new online version.

  20. New PDF version updated 2 January 2019 and a new online version.

  21. New PDF version updated 1 October 2018 and a new online version.

  22. New PDF version updated 29 June 2018 and a new online version.

  23. New PDF version updated 29 March 2018 and a new online version.

  24. New PDF version updated 2 January 2018 and a new online version.

  25. New PDF version updated 29 September 2017 and a new online version.

  26. New PDF version updated 30 June 2017 and a new online version.

  27. New PDF version updated 31 March 2017 and a new online version.

  28. New PDF version updated 30 December 2016 and a new online version.

  29. New Pdf and online version added.

  30. New PDF version updated 1 July 2016 and a new online version.

  31. New PDF version updated 31 March 2016 and a new online version.

  32. New PDF version updated 31 December 2015 and a new online version.

  33. Updated citation format document added. New online chapter for citation formats added.

  34. Link to online manual added.

  35. New version updated - 1 October 2015.

  36. New version updated - 1 July 2015.

  37. Citations Formats has been added.

  38. New version updated - 1 April 2015.

  39. New version updated - 1 January 2015.

  40. Updated version of the MoPP published on 1 October 2014.

  41. First published.