A collection of practical guides, explanations and reference materials covering key areas of UK intellectual property law and procedure. These resources are designed to help clients, businesses and advisors understand the processes, rights and options available.
Patent Resources
The UK Patent Process Step‑by‑step overview of filing, search, examination, publication and grant.
Patentability Requirements Novelty, inventive step, industrial applicability and excluded subject matter.
Priority & International Filings How priority works, PCT filings, and timelines for overseas protection.
Patent Costs & Timescales Typical stages, official fees and expected durations.
Patent Box Eligibility How patents interact with UK tax reliefs and qualifying requirements.
Design Rights
UK Registered Designs What they protect, how long they last, and the registration process.
Unregistered Design Right (UDR) Scope, duration, qualifying criteria and enforcement considerations.
Registered vs Unregistered Protection When to use each right and how they complement each other.
Trade Marks (General Information)
(For clients needing orientation before being referred to a trade mark specialist.)
What a Trade Mark Protects Names, logos, slogans and brand identifiers.
Registration Process Overview Basic steps and timelines.
IP Strategy & Management
IP Audits What an audit covers and how it supports commercial planning.
Global Filing Strategy Cost‑effective approaches to international protection.
IP Ownership & Assignments Understanding who owns what and how rights are transferred.
Licensing Basics Key terms, structures and commercial considerations.
IP for Tax & Finance
Patent Box Explained Qualifying criteria, relevant IP income and common filing strategies.
R&D Tax Credits How IP interacts with R&D claims and what evidence is required.
For Overseas Applicants
UK National Phase Entry Guide Requirements, deadlines and formalities.
UK Priority Filing Guide How to claim priority from an overseas application.
UKIPO Practice Notes Links to relevant UKIPO manuals and guidance.
For UK IP Firms
Drafting & Prosecution Standards Approach, formats and expectations for outsourced work.
Straw‑Man Representation When anonymity is useful and how the process works.
Useful External Links
- UKIPO
- EPO
- WIPO
- EUIPO
- HMRC Patent Box Guidance
- CIPA & IPREG professional resources