Single Access Portal

2. Designation of the inventor

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Survey questions and answers
AL - Albania
AT - Austria

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information

Ad 2.2: Under Austrian Law, designation of the inventor is not mandatory. If an inventor is designated, no address needs to be provided. If it is provided, it is entered into the register.

BE - Belgium

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
BA - Bosnia and Herzegovina

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

No

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
BG - Bulgaria

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
Additional information

Only family name

HR - Croatia

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
Additional information

All information entered into the patent register, included inventors' full addresses are published

CY - Cyprus
CZ - Czech Republic

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
DK - Denmark

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information

Nationale legislation were adapted having effect from January 1st 2022 meaning that we from applications filed on or after this date no longer request the Inventors full adresse, but only name, city of recidence and country to be submitted. Same information is published in the register and on the documents

EE - Estonia

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information

The data is published in the form indicated in the application

FI - Finland

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
Additional information

The name and the full address of the inventor are entered in the register. The address can be an address of employment.

FR - France

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information

Prior to the convergence programme, the INPI already did not send formal notification to inventors regarding their designation. Inventors could already obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or inspection of the file.

Following the convergence programme, INPI has modified its patent register to remove inventors' full addresses. Only the family name(s), given name(s), country and place of residence are now published in the patent register.

DE - Germany

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information

The practice described above in item 2.2 was codified with effect from 1.5.2022 by adjusting Sec. 63 (1) sentence 2 German Patent Act:

(1) The first publication of the application (section 32 (2)), of the patent specification (section 32 (3)) and the publication of the grant of the patent (section 58 (1)) are to mention the inventor by name and place, provided that the inventor has already been designated. Such mention by name and place is to be noted in the Register (section 30 (1)). No mention by name and place or by place is made if the inventor designated by the applicant so requests. The request may be withdrawn at any time; in the event of withdrawal, the inventor is subsequently mentioned. The inventor’s waiver of the right to be mentioned is without legal effect.

 

GR - Greece

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
Additional information

Re. 2.2: The only information entered in the patent register is the name and surname of the inventor.

HU - Hungary

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
Additional information

The inventors full address is a mandatory information to be published in the patent register according to Hungarian Patent Act. In order to fully meet the recommendations legal changes would be necessary. The possibility of amending the relevant legislation is under consideration.

IS - Iceland

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
IE - Ireland

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information

2.1 – Yes, no specific notification of designation is given to those listed as inventors. Correspondence regarding derivation of right to be granted a patent is sent to the applicant, not to any other inventors listed.

2.2 – Yes, only information regarding family name and given name of the inventors are published in the register. The Office will not publish the full address of the inventors received at the time of application.
 

IT - Italy

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
Additional information

Only family name, given name and country of residence are requested , according to national patent law (D.Lgs n. 30/2005)

LV - Latvia

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information

In public part of the register we enter only family name, given name(s), country and place of residence for inventors. However our internal database contains all information about inventors provided by applicants.

LI - Liechtenstein

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
LT - Lithuania

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
LU - Luxembourg

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
Additional information

As of 2022, the LU office has removed the indication of the address of the inventor from the public register (LU and EP patents). Only the country of residence is indicated.

The LU office has also changed it's patent application forms as to no longer require he indication of the complete address of the inventor. Only the the first name, surname and country of residence have to be indicated.

MT - Malta
MC - Monaco

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
ME - Montenegro

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
NL - Netherlands
MK - Republic of North Macedonia
NO - Norway

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

No

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
PL - Poland

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information

The practice is compliant with Polish law.

The Office conveyed information to users regarding this practice and its alignment with legal requirements through updates on the PPO's website and during a workshop jointly organized with the EPO.

PT - Portugal

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information

In our patent register, as well as in national patent documents, only the full name of the invertor is published.

RO - Romania
SM - San Marino

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
Additional information

San Marino law prescribes to file on the application only the name and the family name of the inventor.

RS - Serbia

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
SK - Slovakia

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information

Decree No. 223/2002 Coll. implementing the Act No. 435/2001 Coll. on Patents, Supplementary Protection Certificates and on Amendment of Other Acts (The Patent Act) as amended
https://www.slov-lex.sk/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2002/223/ - Slovak version

2.2. Article 25 (1)(p)

SI - Slovenia

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

No

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information
ES - Spain

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
Additional information

Currently, only the family name and given name(s) are prescribed. The Patent Law is being revised. Once enacted, its implementing regulations will be revised to prescribed country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors.

SE - Sweden

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

No

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
CH - Switzerland

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
Additional information

ad. 2.1. Yes, Inventors are formally notified about their designation. 
ad. 2.2 No, if the Inventor does not wave the right to be named, the full address is published in the register.

TR - Türkiye

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

Yes
Additional information

If not requested to be kept confidential, the identity and contact information of the inventor shall be published. (Rule 101(3)(c))

GB - United Kingdom

2.1.

2.1. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that inventors are not formally notified about their designation in a patent application; inventors can instead obtain information about their designation from the applicant, through inspection of the patent register or via file inspection?

Yes

2.2.

2.2. Does your National Patent Office’s administrative practice prescribe that family name, given name(s), country and place of residence, or, if allowed, of employment of designated inventors are entered in the patent register while additional information about inventors’ full addresses is not published in the patent register? (NB: This is without prejudice to the right of inventors to waive their right to be mentioned, if available.)

No
Additional information

The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) recently conducted a public consultation which included a question about whether the IPO should stop including full addresses for inventors in the patents register, and further questions about how this should be implemented. The consultation closed on 31 October 2023.  

Once the consultation responses have been fully analysed, if it is decided to make this change, then legislative change will be necessary to do so. Information about the consultation is available at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ipo-transformation-programme-second-consultation