Patenting of biological matter

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for your email.

Your enquiry is receiving attention, and you should receive a reply within five working days.

Yours faithfully,

Matthew Jones

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Dear Mr Deas

Thank you for your email of 15 April 2009 requesting information about the patenting of biological matter.

Your request is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and will be answered within twenty working days.

If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Alison Smith
Records officer
Intellectual Property Office
Tel: 01633 814587

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Dear Mr Deas

Thank you for your email of 15 April 2009 in which you requested details of the number of patent applications relating to living organisms filed since 1980.

I am writing to advise you that, following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that we only hold such information dating back to 2003, a copy of which is attached. The attachment summarises the best count we have of biological matter (relating to living organisms). The data is compiled from the start of 2003 through to date.

Please note that the figures are only for applications published, as not all applications filed proceed as GB patents. Further explanation of the patenting process is available on our website at: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-basicfacts.pdf

It may be possible to provide pre-2003 figures by conducting an expert search of patent applications, but we would have to charge you a commercial rate for that service. As patent searches are one of our commercial activities we are not obliged by the Freedom of Information Act to provide such information without charge and as a Trading Fund Agency we are unable to exercise discretion to do so.

If you do decide to request a search for further information you can obtain an estimate of costs from our Search and Advisory Service via: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-find-expert-cont... .

I am sorry that we are unable to meet you request in full but hope that the limited information we have to hand proves to be of some value to you.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to:

Chief Executive
Intellectual Property Office
PO Box 49
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8YU

E-mail: [email address]

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Alison Smith
Records officer
Intellectual Property Office
Tel: 01633 814587

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