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Patents Act 1977, Section 63 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 27 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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(1)If the validity of a patent is put in issue in proceedings for infringement of the patent and it is found that the patent is only partially valid, the court or the comptroller may, subject to subsection (2) below, grant relief in respect of that part of the patent which is found to be valid and infringed.
(2)Where in any such proceedings it is found that a patent is only partially valid, the court or the comptroller shall [F1, when awarding damages, costs or expenses or making an order for an account of profits, take into account the following—
(a)whether at the date of the infringement the defendant or defender knew, or had reasonable grounds to know, that he was infringing the patent;
(b)whether the specification of the patent was framed in good faith and with reasonable skill and knowledge;
(c)whether the proceedings are brought in good faith;
and any relief granted shall be subject to the discretion of the court or the comptroller as to costs or expenses and as to the date from which damages or an account should be reckoned.]
(3)As a condition of relief under this section the court or the comptroller may direct that the specification of the patent shall be amended to its or his satisfaction upon an application made for that purpose under section 75 below, and an application may be so made accordingly, whether or not all other issues in the proceedings have been determined.
[F2(4)The court or the comptroller may also grant relief under this section in the case of a European patent (UK) on condition that the claims of the patent are limited to its or his satisfaction by the European Patent Office at the request of the proprietor.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 63(2) substituted (29.4.2006) by Intellectual Property (Enforcement, etc) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1028), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 3
F2S. 63(4) inserted (13.12.2007) by Patents Act 2004 (c. 16), ss. 3(1), 17(1); S.I. 2007/3396, art. 2(e)
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