Patent Office launches paperwork consultation

The organisation is asking innovators, asset managers and intellectual property law professionals to comment on the consultation, which includes proposals to:

• Merge forms that require identical actions – rights owners currently have to fill out separate forms for change of ownership, change of agent or change of name or address for each different intellectual property right.
• Increase the options available on some forms, reducing the necessity to fill out separate forms.
• Expand the range of forms available for download from the Patent Office website by electronic methods.
• Standardise the overall appearance of the forms across all business areas.
• Improve the clarity of the forms.

Comments are required by 1st February 2006.