The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is considering proposals made in the Gowers review which reccomend the introduction of a fast track process for granting patents and registering trademarks.
Fast track patent processing should be available for between £400 and £600.
Trademark applicants should be able to request examination within 10 days as opposed to the current time of 4 to 6 weeks, with the fee being a maximum of £300.
According to Lord Triesman, (Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Intellectual Property and quality):
“The proposals provide important new tools for businesses – both large and small – in providing fast track routes to the grant of a patent or the registration of a trade mark. I look forward to hearing the views of interested parties on the proposed services.”
