We use some essential cookies to make this website work.
We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.
We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.
You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
Departments, agencies and public bodies
News stories, speeches, letters and notices
Detailed guidance, regulations and rules
Reports, analysis and official statistics
Consultations and strategy
Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports
Help improve GOV.UK Sign up to take part in user research (opens in a new tab)
The principal legislation on copyright can be found in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
The Patents Rules 2007 set out the detailed procedures under the Patents Act 1977, and came into force on 17 December 2007.
The Trade Marks Rules 2008 set out the detailed procedures under the Trade Marks Act 1994, and came into force on 1 October 2008.
You may receive a misleading invoice that requests payment for a service related to a trade mark, design, or patent. Here's some information and guidance on what to do.
Sections (15.01 - 15.58) last updated: January 2026.
Section last updated: July 2023.
Opposition is the legal procedure that allows you to try to stop a published trade mark going on to become registered.
Sections (1.01 - 1.58) last updated: October 2025.
Applications received to amend the specification of a patent under sections 27 and 75 before the court and the Office.
At the end of every month we publish a newsletter covering recent intellectual property (IP) developments in China.
In order to better understand the process of applying for a design, we recommend you view the design timeline.
How to get permission to copy a creative work for which the right holder(s) cannot be found ie an orphan work.
A change in practice to costs in patents, trade mark and designs.
Information on paying by card, bank transfer, deposit account or cheque.
The Intellectual Property Office offers different methods of accelerating the processing of your patent application.
There are 4 model research collaboration agreements for universities and companies that wish to undertake collaboration research projects together.
Guidance for copyright owners on how to grant a licence for, sell or market their work.
Develop your knowledge and skills in IP such as trade marks, copyright, designs and patents with our IP masterclass training course.
Section last updated: January 2021.
If you own the copyright in a work, you have exclusive rights over certain uses of that work. These rights fall into two categories: economic rights and moral rights.
Do not include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Please fill in this survey (opens in a new tab and requires JavaScript).