From 1 April 2026, official patent office fees at the UK IPO are set to rise, coinciding with the rollout of the IPO’s new digital patent filing and management platform. Together, these developments represent a major shift in how users will interact with the UK IPO, and both changes carry significant implications for patent applicants, and practitioners navigating the UK IP landscape.
Summary
While the increase in fees is not insignificant, we believe that is unlikely to impact the UK IPO’s position as patent office of choice for first filings among UK companies. However, updates to the UK IPO’s digital infrastructure may present more of an issue to some applicants. Currently, these updates mean that it will only be possible to view filing receipts and copies of filed documents after about 24 hours. This may add significant uncertainty when filing applications with the UK IPO, particularly when a filing is time critical. However, there may be options for mitigating this uncertainty, and your patent attorney can advise on the best course of action in your particular case.
We have summarised the most important points to be aware of below.
By how much will fees increase?
It is not unusual for patent offices to raise official fees. In fact, the European Patent Office (EPOs) reviews its fees annually. However, this has not been the case at the UK IPO, making the upcoming changes the first comprehensive fee increase in several years. In particular:
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Patent fees will rise by an average of 33%
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Trade mark fees by 22%
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Registered design fees by 24%.
For a typical patent application, this means that official fees associated with filing are increasing from £310 to £405. This includes the filing, search and examination fees (excluding any excess claims or page fees) which are due before a patent can be granted. Renewal fees which are due annually after a patent is granted will also increase by around a third, in line with other official fees. (Please note that these increases only relate to official patent office fees. Other costs, such as our service charges, are set separately.)
Although this represents a notable increase in official fees, the UK IPO remains a cost-effective route for filing a first patent application and obtaining a search that can be used to inform further filing decisions.
How will the UK IPO’s new case management system affect applicants?
Until now, the UK IPO has relied on software provided by the EPO to allow professional users, such as patent attorneys, to file patent applications and submit related documents. This system is now being phased out, and the UK IPO has developed a new proprietary platform to replace it.
Most of the changes introduced with the new system relate to how it operates in the background (browser-based rather than dedicated software) and to the way the user interface has been designed.
However, because both the backend and the user interface have been completely rebuilt, there are also some procedural changes. The most significant of these is the availability of filing receipts. Under the current system, when filing a patent application, a filing receipt and copies of the documents filed are available immediately after submission. This provides reassurance to both patent attorneys and applicants that an application has been received and that the content submitted is exactly as intended.
In the new system, filing receipts and copies of the filed documents will no longer be available immediately. Instead, due to the way the system now operates, these will only be issued once the application has been reviewed by the UK IPO – a process likely to take about 24 hours. Unsurprisingly, this introduces a degree of uncertainty for applicants, particularly where filings are time-critical.
What alternatives are there to filing at the UK IPO?
Another option, particularly for first filings, is the European Patent Office (EPO). Filing receipts and copies of submitted documents are still issued immediately through the EPO’s online filing system, which can provide greater certainty at the point of filing.
However, the costs associated with filing a European patent application can be significantly higher than those incurred at the UK IPO. For applicants who routinely proceed to a European patent filing, these additional costs may be justified; indeed, filing directly at the EPO can, in some cases, result in more efficient prosecution and an earlier grant. For start-ups and small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), however, the higher official fees may be prohibitive, particularly where patent protection is sought only in the UK.
Nonetheless, there are several strategies that can provide sufficient certainty that an application has been successfully filed while keeping overall costs within budget. Our patent attorneys are happy to advise on the best approach for your situation.
Source:
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