News

UKIPO launches free online patent

The UK Intellectual Property Office has launched a Beta version of an online patent document and information service, which offers free access for the inspection of documents relating to patents granted and applications filed in the UK. 

The new service, called Ipsum, contains all of the information currently contained in the UKIPO’s Patent Status Enquiry, as well as a forms log, citation, classification and field of search information.

Copies of some documents from the open part of a case file are also available – those in which there is Crown copyright. These typically include abstracts, claims, descriptions, drawings, examination reports, external search reports, PCT forms and documents, most correspondence sent by the UKIPO after 1 November 2010, and A & B specifications (including some published before 1 January 2008).

The UKIPO is also carrying out a consultation on proposals which would allow the UKIPO to enable the online inspection service to include documents for which it does not own the copyright, such as technical journal papers and prior art patent documents from other patent offices.

The interim version of Ipsum enables visitors to the UKIPO website to search for case file information either by publication number or application number. The launch of the full service, including more documents, is planned for October 2011.

Responding to the news, Dr Anna Molony said: “This is the first time that documents from the UKIPO files for UK patents and applications have been made available online and it brings the UKIPO online service into line with that offered by the EPO and USPTO.”

However, she continued: “Only documents relating to patents/applications that have been published since January 2008 are currently available. The full service, covering more documents, is expected to go live in the autumn and we look forward to the increased access to information about UK patent file histories that full launch will bring.”