Patent advance

Anyone who wants to file a patent can now make a start digitally. The Patent Office has put the application form on the World Wide Web at www.patent.gov.uk.

British law, however, means that the rest of the process is still in the 19th century. Even if you have invented the device that will replace the computer, you will have to print out the patent form and send it back by the post because electronic patent filing is not allowed. The Patent Office plans soon to put the past two years of United Kingdom, European and world patent applications online.