A patent application is published, i.e. certain documents relating to the application are open to public inspection, as soon as practicable after the expiry of a period of eighteen months from the filing date (or the priority date if there is one), unless it has been finally refused or withdrawn before the termination of the technical preparations for publication. It may however be published earlier upon request by the applicant.
The publication of an application is advertised in the Patents Office Journal. Copies of published applications are available to anyone who wishes to inspect or purchase them.
The Patents Office Journal
The Office publishes the Patents Office Journal on a fortnightly basis, generally it's published on a Wednesday. The Journal is in two parts.
Part 1 concerns patents and designs and includes information under a number of headings including:
- Patent applications filed
- Applications published
- Patents granted
- European Patents granted designating the State
- Applications lapsed
- Applications withdrawn, deemed withdrawn or refused.
- Patents expired
- Proceedings under the Patents Act, 1992
- Matters concerning Supplementary Protection Certificates.
Part II of the Journal contains information relating to trade marks.
The Office provides an interactive, on-line version of the Journal, including search facilities. Journals may be viewed online via the website or consulted on request at our offices in Kilkenny and Dublin or purchased directly from the Office or from the Government Publications Sales Office.