The UK Patent Office is trying to work out the best way to
streamline its submission procedure for patents, trade marks and
design registration in the hope of reducing the time that
businesses spend on paperwork.
The organisation is asking innovators, asset managers and
intellectual property law professionals to comment on the
consultation, which includes proposals to:
- Merge forms that require identical actions – rights owners
currently have to fill out separate forms for change of ownership,
change of agent or change of name or address for each different
intellectual property right.
- Increase the options available on some forms, reducing the
necessity to fill out separate forms.
- Expand the range of forms available for download from the
Patent Office website by electronic methods.
- Standardise the overall appearance of the forms across all
business areas.
- Improve the clarity of the forms.
Comments are required by 1st February 2006.
