EC Patent Offices (Hansard, 20 July 1993)

HC Deb 20 July 1993 vol 229 c134W 134W

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the President of the Board of Trade in which EC countries the patent offices are privately owned or controlled.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
[holding answer 12 July 1993]: Financing and control arrangements vary in Europe and a number of patent offices are currently the subject of reviews, as is the case with the United Kingdom Office. No EC patent office is privately owned or controlled at present, but some reviews may consider the scope for greater private sector involvement.