The Patents Act 2004 (c. 16) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom relating to patent law.
Provisions One of the purposes of the act is to give effect to the revised European Patent Convention which was agreed by Diplomatic Conference in November 2000.Explanatory notes, paragraphs 3 and 6 It also amended employees' rights to compensation for inventions, to enable employee compensation "to be awarded in respect of all outstanding benefits deriving from a patented invention, removing the requirement for an employee to show that the patent itself is of outstanding benefit".Intellectual Property Office, Manual of Patent Practice: Section 40: Compensation of employees for certain inventions, accessed 20 July 2022
The act also make it easier for small and medium size businesses to enforce their rights. The act allows individuals to have access to an independent Patent Office "opinion" on the validity of their patent.
Section 17 - Commencement etc The following orders have been made under this section: The Patents Act 2004 (Commencement No. 1 and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2177 (C. 94)) The Patents Act 2004 (Commencement No. 2 and Consequential, etc. and Transitional Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3205 (C. 140)) The Patents Act 2004 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2471 (C. 105)) The Patents Act 2004 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/3396 (C. 144))
See also Patent Act Halsbury's Statutes
References
External links The Patents Act 2004, as amended from the National Archives. The Patents Act 2004, as originally enacted from the National Archives. Explanatory notes to the Patents Act 2004.