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Manual of Patent Practice

From:
Intellectual Property Office
Published
19 February 2016
Updated:
1 April 2026 - See all updates

Summary

The Manual of Patent Practice (MOPP) explains the Intellectual Property Office's practice under the Patents Act 1977.

The Manual of Patent Practice is undergoing a major review following the launch of the One IPO patent service.

To help you use the new service, we’ve published demo videos, blogs, an FAQ, Directions for the use of the One IPO Digital Services - GOV.UK, and a roadmap of upcoming service improvements.

We expect to incorporate updates into this Manual over the coming months.

If you need any further support, please get in touch with our team at  oneiposupport@ipo.gov.uk.

It recites sections of the Patents Act 1977 and the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 relating to patents.

The Manual also includes:

  • commentary for each provision and related legislation
  • official notices from the Patents and Design Journal
  • a section on Supplementary Protection Certificates for Medicinal Products
  • a section on Plant Protection Products

It is regularly updated to reflect changes in the Law and judicial decisions. Any paragraphs which have been updated in the preceding three months are highlighted by a grey box.

Note: Statements made in the Manual are not in themselves an authority for any action by the IPO and should not be used as a set of legal requirements.

If you notice any errors, please email the manual editor.

Contents