The Patent Office annual report and accounts 2008-2009

This report deals with the activities of the Patent Office during the last financial year. The Patent Office is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the national framework of intellectual property rights (IPRs) (patents, designs, trade marks and copyright) and the granting and management of rights within that framework. These are governed by the Patents Act 1977 as amended by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the Patents Act 2004, the Regulatory Reform (Patents) Order 2004 and the Trade Marks Act 1994 and the Registered Designs Act 1949 (as amended by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988). The Office is an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and it has been a Trading Fund since 1991.