Policy input: Fast-track patent application process c/d 14 December 2007

The Gowers Report on Intellectual Property recommended that the UK Intellectual Property Office (formerly the Patent Office) provide new accelerated services for processing patent and trade mark applications. The Intellectual Property Office are now consulting on proposed new fast track services for patents and trade marks, both of which will be available to all applicants upon payment of a fee. The consultation document lists several questions that they would like you to answer one or more of, by email or post, including which of their fee structures proposed you'd prefer, and what you think the minimum period for filing third party observations on patent applications should be. The deadline for responses is 14 December 2007.