Patent site approaches first birthday

Around 1,000 patents filed online in first year

A service for filing UK patents online has been used by just three per cent of applicants in its first year.

The UK Patent Office, which receives about 30,000 patents each year, has announced its 1,000^th online filing just ahead of the web site's first anniversary.

Sean Dennehey, director of patents at the Patent Office says he is delighted that it has reached 1,000 electronically filed patent applications within a year of the system’s launch.

'This shows the value of our continuing commitment to provide our customers with electronic services. We now provide a reliable and efficient option for filing patent applications in the 21st century,' he said.

The online service also allows applicants to file European applications for the European Patent Office or international applications for the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva.

The Patent Office now says it will hold a new round of training courses in October for people who are interested in using the online filing system.