Patent Law Amendment Act

This 1852 law established a patent process for all residents of the United Kingdom.

The British Patent Law Amendment Act was enacted in 1852 and greatly simplified the issuance of patents in the United Kingdom (UK). Patent laws had been in existence in the UK for 400 years before this act.

Function

The law contained provisions for the granting of a single patent which would be valid throughout the UK. Prior to the passage of this law, inventors had to file petitions at "no less than seven offices," according to the Intellectual Property Office and pay legal fees at each one.

Features

The act also contained provisions for the creation of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the UK's patent administration agency. Originally named the Patent Office, the IPO is the United Kingdom's only official granter of patent rights.

Considerations

Previously, patents were required for each member nation of the United Kingdom, multiplying the effort and cost required for attaining patent protection. The Patent Law Amendment Act of 1852 consolidated the responsibilities of member nation's offices under the Intellectual Property Office.

References

• Intellectual Property Office: 19th Century
• Intellectual Property Office: History

Resources

• Intellectual Property Office