Patent Law & Practice at a Glance – April 2026

UKIPO update

One IPO launches

The UKIPO’s new One IPO service launched publicly on 1 April 2026. The UKIPO’s guidance for users of the new system is summarised here.

Although it is understood that the UKIPO will eventually  phase out the use of email for filing forms, it currently continues to accept forms submitted via the forms@ipo.gov.uk email address.

The old eOLF filing software is no longer available.

Update to PCT fees

The UKIPO has increased the fees it charges as an authority under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The new schedule of fees can be found here.

UK-China IP

The UKIPO publishes a newsletter targeted at UK stakeholders, including updates on recent development in Chinese IP. The latest edition of this newsletter can be found here.

Monthly filing statistics: patents, trade marks and designs

The latest month’s statistics are now available here. Statistics for previous months can be found here.

EPO update

Audio recording of oral proceedings before the Unitary Patent Protection Division

As of 1 April 2026, oral proceedings held by videoconference before the Unitary Patent Protection Division may be audio recorded by the EPO for the purpose of preparing the minutes of oral proceedings with the assistance of artificial intelligence. These recordings will be deleted once the minutes of oral proceedings are issued to the parties to proceedings.

The recording or transmittal of oral proceedings in any form by participants other than EPO employees is prohibited.

Details are available here.

Filing of documents in DOCX format

As of 1 April 2026, the EPO will permit documents to be filed in DOCX format in both proceedings under the European Patent Convention and proceedings related to European patents with unitary effect. Details are available here. (Further details are also available here, here, here, and here.)

186th meeting of the Administrative Council

The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation held its 186th meeting in Munich on 18 and 19 March 2026. Among the points discussed, the Council unanimously authorised the President to conclude a validation agreement with the Republic of Angola. In line with the updated validation policy unanimously adopted in 2025, it also authorised the President to open negotiations with the Republic of Burundi, the Republic of El Salvador and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. In addition, in closed session, the Council noted the request from Georgia to be invited to accede to the EPC and that further consideration and discussions, including on governance, would be necessary.

PCT update

Practical advice: options and consequences when the International Searching Authority finds a lack of unity of invention

The following question is answered: The International Searching Authority (ISA) has found that the PCT application I filed does not comply with the requirement of unity of invention. It has sent me partial search results with an invitation to pay additional fees within one month. I do not agree with this finding. What options do I have?

The answer is set out here (pages 8 to 10).