Applying for a patent

Article written by Chloe Seeley, Work Experience Student

"If you wanted to take a legal action against someone who has copied the manufacturing of your product, a UK patent would help you. A patent is the protection for your intellectual property and it lasts up to a maximum of twenty years. The thing you are wishing to patent must be fully original and either something that can be made and used, a technical process, or a method of doing something. When applying for a patent, you must pay a fee (at least £310) to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). To increase your chance of a successful application, expert advice from a patent attorney is always recommended. They provide high standard help and advice, giving you the best chance of approval. 

Getting a patent can be a very long, confusing process, possibly lasting several years. And that is why professional help from a qualified Patent Attorney is important, to have the best chance of success. Once having confidence that your invention is new and you’ve decided to apply for a patent, you must prepare a detailed document that describes your invention and then file these documents with the IPO. You must then ask the IPO to perform ‘a search’ checking to see if your invention is new and inventive. After roughly 18 months after applying, the IPO will publish your application in full. 

The IPO must then go through the process of substantive examination. This is a thorough check of your application to decide if your invention can be patented. This could take several years after applying. If all the legal criteria are met, your application will be granted, usually within four and a half years from applying.  You can then use your granted patent to stop others copying your invention or license to other companies who want to use your invention for a competitive fee. For more information on the above, please see the UKIPO website here."

For further advice please contact ip21.

Chloe Seeley

Work Experience Student

July 2025