- The **first provisions of the Intellectual Property Act 2014 in the United Kingdom have come into force.
- The Act introduces several new measures related to intellectual property law.
Patent Marking Changes
- The Act expands the options for patent proprietors to mark patented products.
- Marking a patented product helps prevent infringers from claiming “innocent infringement” and avoiding damages.
New Marking Method
- Patent holders can now mark products with the address of a free, publicly accessible web page.
- The web page must clearly link the product to the relevant patent number(s).
Advantages of Web-Based Marking
- Solves the problem of physically listing multiple patent numbers on products, which can be difficult and unattractive.
- Makes it easier and cheaper to update patent information when patents expire or lapse.
Legal Importance
- Falsely marking a product as patented is a criminal offence in the UK, so accurate and updated marking is important.
International Context
- The **United States previously introduced a similar system allowing virtual patent marking via web pages.
- A single well-designed web page may allow marking of products patented in both the UK and the US.
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