Government launches 'Peer to Patent' online patent application tool
01 June 2011
A new tool designed to help improve the patent application process has been launched by the Minister for Intellectual Property, Baroness Wilcox. 'Peer to Patent' is a review website which allows experts from the scientific and technology community to view and comment on patent applications. During the six month pilot up to 200 applications in the computing field will be gradually uploaded for review on the website.
President of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys Alasdair Poore
The first group of applications are uploaded to the Peer to Patent website today (June 1) and are now open for review by registered users for three months. Following this, the system will create a summary of the comments which will be sent to a Patent Examiner at the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Examiners will then consider these as part of the patent review process.
The UK pilot follows on from successful Peer to Patent websites that have already been run in the USA and Australia. The project was developed by the New York Law School (NYLS) from the work of Professor Beth Noveck. The pilot will end on 31 December 2011.
President of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys Alasdair Poore (pictured) commented: "The quality of patent applications is so important. Interested observers are the ones who have the expert knowledge, so Peer to Patent gives them the chance to make a real contribution. We welcome this pilot as a way of exploring how third party opinions can really improve the quality of patents. I hope users, observers and applicants will engage positively and constructively in the pilot to show that it can work, and help to build a stronger UK patent system.”
Contact Details and Archive...