Part VIPatents
Patents county courts
287Patents county courts: special jurisdiction
1
The Lord Chancellor may by order made by statutory instrument designate any county court as a patents county court and confer on it jurisdiction (its “special jurisdiction”) to hear and determine such descriptions of proceedings—
a
relating to patents or designs, or
b
ancillary to, or arising out of the same subject matter as, proceedings relating to patents or designs,
as may be specified in the order.
2
The special jurisdiction of a patents county court is exercisable throughout England and Wales, but rules of court may provide for a matter pending in one such court to be heard and determined in another or partly in that and partly in another.
3
A patents county court may entertain proceedings within its special jurisdiction notwithstanding that no pecuniary remedy is sought.
4
An order under this section providing for the discontinuance of any of the special jurisdiction of a patents county court may make provision as to proceedings pending in the court when the order comes into operation.
5
Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the ordinary jurisdiction of a county court.