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Patents Act 2004

Consolidated Text As Enacted Cited authorities 129 Cited in Amendments 74 Related
Vincent
JurisdictionUK Non-devolved
Citation2004 c. 16
  • After section 4 of the Patents Act 1977 (c. 37) (“the 1977 Act”) there is inserted—
      (4A) Methods of treatment or diagnosis
    • “(1) A patent shall not be granted for the invention of—
    • (a) a method of treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy, or
    • (b) a method of diagnosis practised on the human or animal body.
    • a method of treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy, ora method of diagnosis practised on the human or animal body.Subsection (1) above does not apply to an invention consisting of a substance or composition for use in any such method.In the case of an invention consisting of a substance or composition for use in any such method, the fact that the substance or composition forms part of the state of the art shall not prevent the invention from being taken to be new if the use of the substance or composition in any such method does not form part of the state of the art.In the case of an invention consisting of a substance or composition for a specific use in any such method, the fact that the substance or composition forms part of the state of the art shall not prevent the invention from being taken to be new if that specific use does not form part of the state of the art.(1) In section 27 of the 1977 Act (general power to amend after grant) , after subsection (5) there is inserted—
    • “(6) In considering whether or not to allow an application under this section, the comptroller shall have regard to any relevant principles applicable under the European Patent Convention.
    In considering whether or not to allow an application under this section, the comptroller shall have regard to any relevant principles applicable under the European Patent Convention.in subsection (6) , after “satisfied that” there is inserted “ (a) ” and at the end there is inserted
      and
    • (b) the relief is sought in good faith
    ;    the relief is sought in good faithin subsection (8) , after “proves that” there is inserted “ (a) ” and after “knowledge, and” there is inserted—
    • (b) the relief is sought in good faith,
      • and
    .    the relief is sought in good faith,(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(5) In section 75 of that Act (amendment in infringement or revocation proceedings) , after subsection (4) there is inserted—
    • “(5) In considering whether or not to allow an amendment proposed under this section, the court or the comptroller shall have regard to any relevant principles applicable under the European Patent Convention.
    In considering whether or not to allow an amendment proposed under this section, the court or the comptroller shall have regard to any relevant principles applicable under the European Patent Convention.(1) In section 63 of the 1977 Act (relief for infringement of partially valid patent) , after subsection (3) there is inserted—
    • “(4) The court or the comptroller may also grant relief under this section in the case of a European patent (UK) on condition that the claims of the patent are limited to its or his satisfaction by the European Patent Office at the request of the proprietor.
    The court or the comptroller may also grant relief under this section in the case of a European patent (UK) on condition that the claims of the patent are limited to its or his satisfaction by the European Patent Office at the request of the proprietor.(2) In section 58 of that Act (references of disputes as to Crown use) , after subsection (9) there is inserted—
    • “(9A) The court may also grant such relief in the case of a European patent (UK) on condition that the claims of the patent are limited to its satisfaction by the European Patent Office at the request of the proprietor.
    The court may also grant such relief in the case of a European patent (UK) on condition that the claims of the patent are limited to its satisfaction by the European Patent Office at the request of the proprietor.
  • In section 72 of the 1977 Act (power to revoke patents on application) , in subsection (4) , “under section 75 below” is omitted and after that subsection there is inserted—
    • The reference in subsection (4) above to the specification being amended is to its being amended under section 75 below and also, in the case of a European patent (UK) , to its being amended under any provision of the European Patent Convention under which the claims of the patent may be limited by amendment at the request of the proprietor.
  • Schedule 1 (further amendments of the 1977 Act relating to international obligations) has effect.
    • (1) In section 8 of the 1977 Act (reference before grant of patent of questions about entitlement etc) , in paragraph (c) of subsection (3) (powers of comptroller) , for “but after the publication of the application” there is substituted “ (whether the application is refused or withdrawn before or after its publication) ”.(2) In section 11 of that Act (effect of transfer of application under section 8 or 10) after subsection (3) (protection of original applicant or his licensee) there is inserted—
    • “(3A) If, before registration of a reference under section 8 above resulting in the making of an order under subsection (3) of that section, the condition in subsection (3) (a) or (b) above is met, the original applicant or any of the applicants or the licensee shall, on making a request within the prescribed period to the new applicant, be entitled to be granted a licence (but not an exclusive licence) to continue working or, as the case may be, to work the invention so far as it is the subject of the new application.
    If, before registration of a reference under section 8 above resulting in the making of an order under subsection (3) of that section, the condition in subsection (3) (a) or (b) above is met, the original applicant or any of the applicants or the licensee shall, on making a request within the prescribed period to the new applicant, be entitled to be granted a licence (but not an exclusive licence) to continue working or, as the case may be, to work the invention so far as it is the subject of the new application.(3) In subsection (4) of that section, for “Any such licence” there is substituted “ A licence under subsection (3) or (3A) above ”.after “(2) ” there is inserted “ or (3A) ”;after “proceed” there is inserted “ or, as the case may be, who makes the new application ”.(1) In section 23 of the 1977 Act (restrictions on applications abroad by United Kingdom residents) , in subsection (1) , after “an invention” there is inserted “ if subsection (1A) below applies to that application, ”.(2) After that subsection there is inserted—
    • “(1A) This subsection applies to an application if—
    • (a) the application contains information which relates to military technology or for any other reason publication of the information might be prejudicial to national security; or
    • (b) the application contains information the publication of which might be prejudicial to the safety of the public.
    the application contains information which relates to military technology or for any other reason publication of the information might be prejudicial to national security; orthe application contains information the publication of which might be prejudicial to the safety of the public.(3) After subsection (3) of that section there is inserted—
    • “(3A) A person is liable under subsection (3) above only if—
    • (a) he knows that filing the application, or causing it to be filed, would contravene this section; or
    • (b) he is reckless as to whether filing the application, or causing it to be filed, would contravene this section.
    he knows that filing the application, or causing it to be filed, would contravene this section; orhe is reckless as to whether filing the application, or causing it to be filed, would contravene this section.

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