Intellectual Property Office web filing system
Our web filing service asks you a series of questions about your filing and prompts you to upload accompanying documents as PDF files. The system creates the completed patent form, filing receipt and fee sheet for you.
Dos and Don'ts
| A number of different actions are issues are listed in the first column. Find the one you require and then read across the row to find out what you should or should not do. | |
| Action or issue | Dos and Don'ts |
|---|---|
| Subject matter | You should not use our system if your patent application contains information about military technology or could harm national security or public safety. |
| Email address | You must have a valid e-mail address where we can send the filing receipt. |
| Payment | If payment is required with your submission at the time of filing, you must have a valid credit/debit card or details of a deposit account that you hold with us. You cannot web file if you wish to pay by cash, cheque or bank transfer. |
| Credit/Debit Card Payments | Do not disclose credit or debit card details in any document you upload as a PDF. For card payments, our web form will direct you to a secure payment page to enter your details. You have 1 hour to complete your payment. |
| Patent Forms | Our web filing system creates the completed patent forms for you. We will not accept the web filing of any other patent forms, for example, we will not accept a PDF upload of a completed patent form. |
| Accompanying documents - format and size | Documents can only be uploaded for filing if they are in a PDF format (except Sequence Listings which must be in a .txt format). PDF conversion software is freely available on the internet for you to download and use. Please note there is a total filing size limit of 20Mb. |
| Online session | You must complete the web filing in one session (12 hour limit). You cannot save the session and go back to it later so please refer to the guidance provided to ensure that you have everything you need before you start. |
| Mandatory fields | Fields in bold on a screen must be completed (if data is being added to that screen). |
| Screen navigation | You must not use your browser navigation buttons or the keyboard backspace to move through the form screens. To move back and forth through the screens you must use the "Next", "Previous" or (where applicable) "Go to Summary" buttons within the form. |
| Data entry | Data input on a screen will only be saved by clicking the "Next" or (where applicable) "Go to Summary" button. The "Previous" button will not save the input data. |
| Submission | After you submit your filing, an acknowledgement screen and follow up email will confirm successful receipt. |
Workstation settings
This web filing system works with many browsers, but works best if:
- You use Microsoft Internet Explorer® version 6.0 or above
- You have a broadband connection
- Your browser is JavaScript® enabled
- You have a minimum screen resolution setting of 1024x768
Web filing menu
We recommend you read the guidance notes before you begin, as they contain important information.
| A list of the forms you can file online are shown in the first column. Find the form you require then read across the row to find the form description and a link to guidance notes. | ||
| Online form | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Form 1 | Apply for a UK patent | Form 1guidance notes |
| Form NP1 | Request entry into the UK national phase | Form NP1 guidance notes |
| Subsequent forms and documents | File patent forms and/or documents for a pending UK patent application | Subsequent forms and documents guidance notes |
| Form 23 | Request an electronic uncertified copy from a published UK patent or patent application | GForm 23 guidance notes |