The 1st June saw the live launch of a UK "Peer to Patent" system, by the UK Intellectual Property Office.  The system is designed to give an opportunity to those who wish to participate in an online review of patent applications.

Interested parties can sign up to contribute their expertise with a view to improving the examination of currently pending patent applications in a selected field. Since the selected field is computer related inventions, the savvy online community can be expected to put in their contributions,  discuss the patent applications, and submit references. This will help patent examiners make more informed decisions, in particular giving them access to material which may be difficult to find by normal searching, but which those active in the field know where to find.

There is even an online video tutorial to encourage you to participate.

As the site so elegantly puts it: "This process combines the democracy of open participation with the legitimacy and effectiveness of administrative decision making".

Click here to go have a look and see what you can do to enhance the patent granting process!