Guidance

Ex parte hearing procedures

If you are unable to reach agreement with a patent examiner over your patent application you can request an ex parte hearing.

• From: Intellectual Property Office
• Published: 22 May 2014

Documents

Ex parte hearings at the intellectual property office

PDF, 514 KB, 2 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email information@ipo.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

At the hearing, you will be given the opportunity to explain your case in person to a senior official known as a Hearing Officer.

The Hearing Officer is trained to be impartial and to look at all sides of the argument before coming to a decision on your case.

The guide covers the procedures to follow for ex parte hearings.

Published 22 May 2014