In the next few weeks we need to decide if we spend the money to renew my current granted UK patent. The cost is roughly the same as getting someone in to do the mowing which we will need to do after I have had my operation.

I will be incapacitated for a month or so.

According to the gov.uk web site it seems that it must have already been security screened back when I made it.

Were I to try to submit a new patent application I must do it through the  l’institut national de la propriété industrielle (INPI).

Because of my French residency I must offer the DGA first look at any new ideas I might generate. So this opens up a new avenue of endeavour, trying to file a patent via the INPI to the EPO or to UK IPO.

The phrase “can of worms” springs to mind. But also the idea of trying to navigate an unknown system. Which might be fun…there is an extra layer of difficulty…hmnn…

It seems I can apply in English…

The question remains for experiment:

“Is it possible to get a patent granted for Quantum Telepathy?”

The experimental method is to write and file an application…

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{ww.gov.uk/guidance/national-security-checks-on-patent-applications}

We screen every application filed to check whether it should be placed under directions according to Section 22 of the Patents Act 1977. This includes applications such as:

• UK national applications
• European patent applications under the European Patent Convention (EPC)
• international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)

If such directions are imposed, we will write to you within six weeks of filing your application. You must provide an address for service within the UK for all applications placed under section 22 directions.

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A small number of applications may become subject to directions under section 22 of the Patents Act. This places restrictions on, for example, the disclosure of the application to any third party or filing equivalent applications abroad.

Applications where directions under section 22 are known to be required, for example when a government department or a foreign government requires secrecy, or applications which relate to a classified government contract, should be filed directly to:

Security Section
Room GR70
Intellectual Property Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom

You should not use facsimile transmission or electronic filing.

_________________________________________________________________

According to the London Agreement, for a patent application whose decision to grant is published after 01/05/2008, the filing of a French translation of the specification is not required anymore for validation in France.

However, renewal fees still have to be paid.

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{https://oyat.law/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-10-20-breve-oyat-a-useful-reminder-to-inventors.pdf}

An obligation of first filing with the INPI

The applicant whose domicile or registered office is located in France cannot proceed outside of France with the first filing of a patent application. There is no exception to this provision.

The first filing must be submitted to the INPI, and for patents for which protection is sought outside France, the INPI must act as a receiving office and only transmit patent applications to foreign offices once the DGA has delivered its authorization for disclosure and exploitation.

The INPI is thus required to submit all patent or utility certificate applications to the Ministry of Defense within 15 days of their receipt.

Consequently, inventions for which patent applications have been filed cannot be disclosed and freely exploited until an authorization to do so has been granted by the Ministry of Defense.

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French Government Web site…

Article L612-8

Version en vigueur depuis le 03 juillet 1992

Le ministre chargé de la défense est habilité à prendre connaissance auprès de l’Institut national de la propriété industrielle, à titre confidentiel, des demandes de brevet.

Article L612-9

Modifié par LOI n°2020-1525 du 7 décembre 2020 – art. 28

Les inventions faisant l’objet de demandes de brevet ne peuvent être divulguées et exploitées librement aussi longtemps qu’une autorisation n’a été accordée à cet effet.

Pendant cette période, les demandes de brevet ne peuvent être rendues publiques, aucune copie conforme de la demande de brevet ne peut être délivrée sauf autorisation, et les procédures prévues aux articles L. 612-14, L. 612-15 et au 1° de l’article L. 612-21 ne peuvent être engagées.

Sous réserve de l’article L. 612-10, l’autorisation prévue au premier alinéa du présent article peut être accordée à tout moment. Elle est acquise de plein droit au terme d’un délai de cinq mois à compter du jour du dépôt de la demande de brevet.

Les autorisations prévues aux premier et deuxième alinéas du présent article sont accordées par le directeur de l’Institut national de la propriété industrielle sur avis du ministre chargé de la défense.