Statutory guidance

Directions under section 124A of the Patents Act 1977

Published 16 March 2007

1. Directions

  1. The comptroller has given the following directions under section 124A of the Patents Act 1977.

  2. These directions come into force on 2nd April 2007.

  3. These directions vary the directions given on:
    1 April 2003 ('The 1 April 2003 directions'); 7 April 2003 ('The 7 April 2003 directions'); 23 December 2004 ('The 2004 directions'); 17 May 2005 ('The May 2005 directions'); and 7 September 2005 ('The September 2005 directions').

  4. The 1 April 2003 directions shall be varied as follows:

    (a) In paragraph 2, for the words 'either by email to litigationamend@patent.gov.uk, or' substitute

    'either by email to litigationamend@patent.gov.uk or litigationamend@ipo.gov.uk, or';

    (b) in paragraph 3, for the words 'email address other than that given above' substitute

    'email addresses other than those given above'.

  5. The 7 April 2003 directions shall be varied as follows:

    (a) in paragraph 2, for the words 'to the following email address: withdraw@patent.gov.uk.' substitute

    'to one of the following email addresses: withdraw@patent.gov.uk or withdraw@ipo.gov.uk.';

    (b) in paragraph 3, for the words 'received at withdraw@patent.gov.uk.' substitute

    'received at withdraw@patent.gov.uk or withdraw@ipo.gov.uk.'

    and for the words 'sent to this address.' substitute

    'sent to those addresses."


  6. The 2004 directions shall be varied as follows:

    (a) in paragraph 4, for the words 'to the following email address: pateot@patent.gov.uk' substitute

    'to one of the following email addresses: pateot@patent.gov.uk or pateot@ipo.gov.uk.';

    (b) in paragraph 5, for the words 'that email address.' substitute

    'those email addresses.'


  7. The May 2005 directions shall be varied as follows:

    (a) in paragraph 5, for the words 'to the following email address– section21@patent.gov.uk.' substitute

    'to one of the following email addresses: section21@patent.gov.uk or section21@ipo.gov.uk.';

    (b) in paragraph 6, for the words 'that email address', substitute

    'those email addresses.'


  8. The September 2005 directions shall be varied as follows:

    In paragraph 5, for the words 'to the following email address opinions@patent.gov.uk.' substitute

    'to one of the following email addresses: opinions@patent.gov.uk or opinions@ipo.gov.uk.'.

  9. Ron Marchant
    Comptroller–General of patents, designs and trade marks
    16 March 2007