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IP Legal Bulletin
Short notes on rule changes at patent and trade mark offices: laws, fees, procedures, deadlines and funding calls. Every note links to its official source, and past issues stay in the archive.
- Information, not legal advice
- Written with AI assistance, checked automatically against the source
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Offices followed: 14 (EPO, EUIPO, EU, UKIPO, DPMA (Germany), IGE (Switzerland), PRV (Sweden), PRH (Finland), Patentamt (Austria), IPOI (Ireland), USPTO, TIPO (Taiwan), WIPO, IPONZ (New Zealand)). · 29 coming soon
Issue of 10 August 2026
4 notes
- UKIPOProcedure
UKIPO offers accelerated procedures to speed up patent application processing
The UKIPO offers different accelerated procedures for patent applications. A document outlines these procedures, which speed up processing of a patent application.
Published by the source on 14 August 2026
Official source: UK Intellectual Property Office, guidance and notices (GOV.UK)
- USPTOProcedure
USPTO changes how DOCX patent applications are filed through Patent Center
The USPTO updates its process for filing patent applications in DOCX format through Patent Center. The Office says the change is meant to increase efficiency and lower costs. The entry does not say when the new process starts.
Published by the source on 12 August 2026
- USPTOProcedure
USPTO moves Biomedical Science degree to Category A for patent bar admission
The USPTO moves the Biomedical Science degree from Category B to Category A in the General Requirements Bulletin for admission to the patent bar exam. This widens the degrees that qualify a candidate to sit the exam. The Office says Category B degrees move to Category A on a three-year cycle.
Published by the source on 11 August 2026
Official source: Federal Register, United States Patent and Trademark Office
- USPTOProcedure
USPTO changes admission criteria for the patent bar
The USPTO changes the criteria for admission to practice before the agency in patent matters. The change widens who can sit the patent bar exam. The entry does not state the date the new criteria apply from.
Published by the source on 11 August 2026
Notes are written with the help of artificial intelligence from the offices’ official sources, and each note is checked automatically against its source before it appears. Our editors review and correct them. Every note links to its source. Information, not legal advice.
Archive
Past issues, newest first.
- Issue of 9 November 20263 notes
- Issue of 2 November 20266 notes
- Issue of 26 October 20262 notes
- Issue of 19 October 20261 note
- Issue of 12 October 20262 notes
- Issue of 28 September 20267 notes
- Issue of 14 September 20262 notes
- Issue of 7 September 20262 notes
- Issue of 31 August 20261 note
- Issue of 24 August 20264 notes
- Issue of 17 August 20262 notes
- Issue of 3 August 20261 note
- Issue of 27 July 20263 notes
- Issue of 20 July 20264 notes
- Issue of 13 July 20266 notes
- Issue of 6 July 20261 note
- Issue of 29 June 20263 notes
- Issue of 22 June 20265 notes
- Issue of 15 June 20263 notes
- Issue of 8 June 20266 notes
- Issue of 1 June 20265 notes
- Issue of 25 May 20262 notes
- Issue of 18 May 20261 note
- Issue of 11 May 20261 note
Offices coming soon
These offices are declared and will be followed as soon as their official source can be read automatically. Their notes are not in the bulletin yet.
Europe
- UPCEurope (UPC states)
- MIMIT (Italy)Italy
- OEPM (Spain)Spain
- DKPTO (Denmark)Denmark
- Patentstyret (Norway)Norway
- BOIP (Benelux)Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg
- UPRP (Poland)Poland
- IPO CZ (Czechia)Czechia
- INPI (Portugal)Portugal
- TURKPATENT (Türkiye)Türkiye
- Rospatent (Russia)Russia
Asia
- JPO (Japan)Japan
- KIPO (Korea)South Korea
- CNIPA (China)China
- CGPDTM (India)India
- IPD (Hong Kong)Hong Kong
- IP VietnamVietnam
- IPOPHL (Philippines)Philippines
- DIP (Thailand)Thailand
- DGIP (Indonesia)Indonesia
- MyIPO (Malaysia)Malaysia
- ILPO (Israel)Israel
- SAIP (Saudi Arabia)Saudi Arabia
International
- EAPOEurasia
- OAPIAfrica (member states)
- GCC Patent OfficeGulf Cooperation Council
Other
- IP AustraliaAustralia
- INPI (Brazil)Brazil
- CIPC (South Africa)South Africa
Also watched, with nothing relevant lately: INPI (France), IPOS (Singapore), ARIPO, CIPO (Canada), IMPI (Mexico).