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04/01/2011
Cost-Cutting Patent Arrangements Welcomed
Intellectual Property Minister Baroness Wilcox has welcomed new arrangements for filing patents in Europe which will cut costs for UK businesses.
Applicants can now supply the European Patent Office (EPO) with fewer documents than before, saving companies money on the fees they pay agents for making the application.
Baroness Wilcox said: "Reducing the burden of bureaucracy saves businesses time and money. It is essential in creating the conditions for businesses to grow and prosper.
"These new arrangements will make it cheaper and easier for UK firms to obtain patent protection as they look to expand into other European countries.
"The UK has been campaigning for greater work sharing like this and I am pleased to see this latest development.
"Cutting duplication is key to dealing with the worldwide backlog of patent applications.
"The quicker we deal with patent applications, the quicker firms can bring the latest innovations to the consumer."
The EPO enables companies to make one application for patent protection in up to 40 European countries rather than making separate applications in each country.
But individuals cannot make their own applications to the EPO so companies must engage a patent attorney to do it for them.
The new arrangements mean applicants will no longer have to supply the EPO with the results of searches already done by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Instead the IPO will automatically supply the information from its records and around 5,000 applications a year will benefit from this change.
This will mean less bureaucracy and costs for business while also improving efficiency at the EPO. It will also help tackle the major international backlog of patent applications.
It is estimated the patent backlog costs businesses as much as £7.65 billion each year.
(BMcN/GK)
Applicants can now supply the European Patent Office (EPO) with fewer documents than before, saving companies money on the fees they pay agents for making the application.
Baroness Wilcox said: "Reducing the burden of bureaucracy saves businesses time and money. It is essential in creating the conditions for businesses to grow and prosper.
"These new arrangements will make it cheaper and easier for UK firms to obtain patent protection as they look to expand into other European countries.
"The UK has been campaigning for greater work sharing like this and I am pleased to see this latest development.
"Cutting duplication is key to dealing with the worldwide backlog of patent applications.
"The quicker we deal with patent applications, the quicker firms can bring the latest innovations to the consumer."
The EPO enables companies to make one application for patent protection in up to 40 European countries rather than making separate applications in each country.
But individuals cannot make their own applications to the EPO so companies must engage a patent attorney to do it for them.
The new arrangements mean applicants will no longer have to supply the EPO with the results of searches already done by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Instead the IPO will automatically supply the information from its records and around 5,000 applications a year will benefit from this change.
This will mean less bureaucracy and costs for business while also improving efficiency at the EPO. It will also help tackle the major international backlog of patent applications.
It is estimated the patent backlog costs businesses as much as £7.65 billion each year.
(BMcN/GK)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.
