Introduction The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the government agency responsible for developing Intellectual Property (IP) policy and legislation. In addition, the IPO administers systems for issuing patents, trade marks, registered designs and supplementary protection certificates. It also has a tribunal role in relation to disputes on issues covering those IP rights. The IPO launched

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the government agency responsible for developing Intellectual Property (IP) policy and legislation. The IPO also administers systems for issuing patents, trade marks and registered designs. The government’s ambition is for the IPO to be the best IP office in the world. However, the systems and processes it works with

Part A – Legal barriers to digital transformation Automation of IPO systems and processes In an increasingly digital age, the IPO’s customers rightly expect modern, flexible, digital services. By using a single, integrated digital system for all IP rights we can move away from onerous paper-based processes. Moving to fully digital services will allow us

Part B - Improving the IPO Tribunal Function The IPO’s tribunal function One of the IPO’s roles is as a tribunal in relation to disputes on issues covering patents, trade marks, and designs. These can be disputes between parties, or between a party and the IPO as part of the application process. Disputes brought to