Patents: Disclosure of Information
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps to introduce greater transparency in the patent market.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan
The existing patent system includes several transparency features. For example, although patents are private rights, their publication is part of the patent bargain, allowing innovators a time-limited patent monopoly in exchange for disclosing their invention publicly. Information about published patents is publicly available including on the European Patent Office (EPO) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) websites. In addition, the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) recently launched a new online search tool for UK patents to make it easier for businesses, innovators, and potential licensees to search and access patent information. The IPO continually monitors the patent system to ensure that it is operating appropriately, including in relation to transparency.
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