Guidance
Ex parte hearing procedures
If you are unable to reach agreement with a patent examiner over your patent application you can request an ex parte hearing.
Documents
Details
At the hearing, you will be given the opportunity to explain your case in person to a senior official known as a Hearing Officer.
The Hearing Officer is trained to be impartial and to look at all sides of the argument before coming to a decision on your case.
The guide covers the procedures to follow for ex parte hearings.
Updates to this page
Published 22 May 2014
Last updated 22 January 2026
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First published.