The Patents Act 1977 sets out the requirements for patent applications, how the patent-granting process should operate, and the law relating to disputes concerning patents. It also sets out how UK law relates to the European Patent Convention and the Patent Co-operation Treaty.

The latest amendment to the Patents Act 1977 took place on 1 October 2017 and was made by the Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Act 2017.

The latest update to the above version of the Patents Rules 2007 and Patents (Fees) Rules 2007 took place on 6 April 2017.

A concordance between the Patent Rules 2007 and the superseded Patent Rules 1995 is available.

These directions were supplemented by further directions made on

• 6 April 2017
• 1 June 2016
• 10 September 2014
• 13 February 2014
• 2 November 2010
• 4 March 2010 (revoked)
• 17 September 2009 (revoked)
• 30 March 2009
• 18 April 2008