2.6.2.1 The Request

Date Published

Mandatory elements of a patent request include the name and address of the applicant, an address for service and the names of the actual inventors.  Whilst the applicant may be any person, reg 3.1A provides that the applicant is taken to be the nominated person in respect of the application (see 2.6.1.1 Who May be Granted a Patent?)

Whilst a patent request must be in the approved form, in practice this does not mean that applicants must use the forms available from the Office. Provided the relevant information can be ascertained from the correspondence, the request will be regarded as having met the necessary requirements.

For national phase applications it is usually not necessary to file a separate patent request, as the front page of the PCT pamphlet (as amended or substituted, if appropriate) provides the required information (see 2.20.3.1 Patent Request Form).