Patent Office drops fees

The United Kingdom Patent Office is hoping to benefit small innovative firms with the abolition of the application fee for patents from 1 October.

The abolition is part of a 20 per cent cut in the office’s fees, which includes reductions in the trademark application fee, trademark registration renewal and patent renewal fees.

The office claims the cuts will save industry 12m. Patent Office chief executive Paul Hartnack says: “The reductions in fees make a significant contribution to the competitiveness of British industry, particularly among the small firms which are the source of innovation and creativity in Britain.”