What are examination manuals?
The examination manuals define the official procedures we use to examine applications and help our examiners make consistent decisions.
The manuals provide a reference guide for:
- Identifying relevant legislation
- Interpreting and applying the legislation.
The manuals aren't a user guide for completing an application for a new IP right.
Our manuals
Each IP right type has its own manual. You can access each manual online for free.
Trade marks manual
The trade marks manual helps our trade marks examiners:
- Get information on practice and procedure for filing, examining and registering a trade mark
- Apply our procedure for searching and examining trade mark applications and related actions
- Implement the provisions and regulations of the Trade Marks Act 1995.
Patents manual
The manual helps our patent examiners:
- Get information on practice and procedure for filing, examining and registering a patent
- Apply our procedure for searching and examining national and international patent applications and related actions
- Implement the provisions and regulations of the Patents Act 1990.
Design rights manual
The designs manual helps our design rights examiners:
- Get information on practice and procedure for applying, examining and registering a design right
- Apply our procedure for searching and examining design right applications and related actions
- Implement the provisions and regulations of the Designs Act 2003.
Plant breeder's rights manual
The manual helps our plant breeder's right (PBR) examiners:
- Find information on practices and procedures relating to aspects of application, examination and registration of a PBR
- Apply our procedure for searching and examining PBR applications and related actions
- Implement the provisions and regulations of the Plant Breeder's Rights Act 1994.
Want to learn more about our examination manuals and how we apply them?
You can get in touch with us at anytime.