The Secretary of State for Defence provides the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) with a list of technologies that could be considered prejudicial to national security or public safety. If the IPO receives a patent application for an invention employing any of the technology on the list it can issue directions under the Patents Act 1977 which restrict the publication of the patent. The complainant requested a copy of the list notified to the IPO by the Secretary of State. The IPO initially withheld this list under section 24(1) of the Freedom of Information Act. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation the IPO disclosed a redacted version of the list. The Commissioner has concluded that the IPO is entitled to rely on section 24(1) to withhold the redacted parts of the list.
Section of Act/EIR and Finding: FOI 24 – Complaint Not upheld
[2011] UKICO FS50380601
Bailii
England and Wales
Information
Updated: 11 December 2021; Ref: scu.530756
