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{{short description|The Patent Office of the United Kingdom}}
{{Short description|Patent Office of the United Kingdom}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox organization
{{Infobox organization
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|membership =
|membership =
|leader_title = Chief Executive
|leader_title = Chief Executive
|leader_name = Tim Moss
|leader_name = Adam Williams
|main_organ =
|main_organ =
|parent_organisation = [[Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy]]
|parent_organisation = [[Department for Science, Innovation and Technology]]
|affiliations =
|affiliations =
|num_staff =
|num_staff =
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}}
}}


The '''Intellectual Property Office''' of the United Kingdom (often The IPO) is, since 2 April 2007, the operating name of '''The Patent Office'''.<ref>The change was recommended in the [[Gowers Review of Intellectual Property]], see [http://www.ipo.gov.uk/policy/policy-issues/policy-issues-gowers/policy-issues-gowers-governance.htm ''Governance: Recommendation 53''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011225013/http://www.ipo.gov.uk/policy/policy-issues/policy-issues-gowers/policy-issues-gowers-governance.htm |date=11 October 2008 }}, Intellectual Property Office web site. Consulted on 25 April 2008</ref> It is the official government body responsible for intellectual property rights in the UK and is an executive agency of the [[Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy]] (BEIS).<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office Intellectual Property Office], Intellectual Property Office web site. Consulted on 16th January 2019</ref> Some work on [[copyright]] policy is shared with the [[Department of Culture, Media and Sport]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} and [[plant breeders' rights]] are administered by the [[Plant Variety Rights Office (UK)|Plant Variety Rights Office]], an agency of the [[DEFRA|Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}
The '''Intellectual Property Office''' of the United Kingdom (often referred to as the '''UK IPO''') is, since 2 April 2007, the operating name of '''The Patent Office'''.<ref>The change was recommended in the [[Gowers Review of Intellectual Property]], see [http://www.ipo.gov.uk/policy/policy-issues/policy-issues-gowers/policy-issues-gowers-governance.htm ''Governance: Recommendation 53''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011225013/http://www.ipo.gov.uk/policy/policy-issues/policy-issues-gowers/policy-issues-gowers-governance.htm |date=11 October 2008 }}, Intellectual Property Office web site. Consulted on 25 April 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office/about |website=GOV.UK |access-date=7 September 2021 |language=en |quote=The Intellectual Property Office became the operating name of The Patent Office on 2 April 2007.}}</ref> It is the official government body responsible for [[intellectual property]] rights in the UK and is an executive agency of the [[Department for Science, Innovation and Technology]] (DSIT).<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office Intellectual Property Office], Intellectual Property Office web site. Consulted on 16 January 2019</ref>


== Responsibilities ==
== Responsibilities ==
The IPO has direct administrative responsibility for examining and issuing or rejecting patents, and maintaining registers of intellectual property including patents, designs and [[trade mark]]s in the UK. As in most countries, there is no statutory register of copyright and the IPO does not conduct any direct administration in copyright matters.
The IPO has direct administrative responsibility for examining and issuing or rejecting patents, and maintaining registers of [[intellectual property]] including [[patent]]s, [[designs]] and [[trade mark]]s in the UK. As in most countries, there is no statutory register of [[copyright]] and the IPO does not conduct any direct administration in copyright matters.


The IPO is led by the Comptroller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who is also Registrar of Trade Marks,<ref>Section 62 of the Trade Marks Act 1994</ref> Registrar of Designs<ref>Section 44(1) of the Registered Designs Act 1949</ref> and Chief Executive of the IPO. Since 1 May 2017 the Comptroller has been Tim Moss,<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/tim-moss Tim Moss, Chief Executive and Comptroller General], Intellectual Property Office web site. Consulted on 10 August 2017.</ref> following the resignation of John Alty<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/john-alty John Alty, Director General, Trade Policy]</ref> who had been Comptroller General since 2010. The Comptroller General before Alty was [[Ian Fletcher (diplomat)|Ian Fletcher]], who had taken over after the retirement of [[Ron Marchant]] on 30 March 2007.<ref name="pressrelease">[http://www.patent.gov.uk/press/press-release/press-release-2007/press-release-20070320.htm Patent Office press release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103006/http://www.patent.gov.uk/press/press-release/press-release-2007/press-release-20070320.htm |date=29 September 2007 }}, 20 March 2007</ref> The previous Comptroller General was [[Alison Brimelow]] (who was afterwards [[President of the European Patent Office]]).
The IPO is led by the Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who is also Registrar of Trade Marks,<ref>Section 62 of the Trade Marks Act 1994</ref> Registrar of Designs<ref>Section 44(1) of the Registered Designs Act 1949</ref> and Chief Executive of the IPO:

* ?-2007{{snd}}[[Alison Brimelow]] (afterwards [[President of the European Patent Office]])
* 2007-2010{{snd}}[[Ian Fletcher (diplomat)|Ian Fletcher]]<ref name="pressrelease">[http://www.patent.gov.uk/press/press-release/press-release-2007/press-release-20070320.htm Patent Office press release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103006/http://www.patent.gov.uk/press/press-release/press-release-2007/press-release-20070320.htm |date=29 September 2007 }}, 20 March 2007</ref>
* 2010-?{{snd}}John Alty<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/john-alty John Alty, Director General, Trade Policy]</ref>
* ?-2022{{snd}}Tim Moss<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/tim-moss] Government website.</ref>
* 1 September 2022-present{{snd}}Adam Williams<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/adam-williams Chief Executive and Comptroller General], Intellectual Property Office web site.</ref>


=== Substantive duties ===
=== Substantive duties ===
The existence of the Patent Office and the post of Comptroller General are required by the Patents and Designs Act 1907 (though most of the remainder of this Act has been repealed), but the substantive duties of the IPO are set out in other legislation, including:
The existence of the Patent Office and the post of Comptroller-General are required by the [[Patents and Design Act 1907]] (though most of the remainder of this Act has been repealed), but the substantive duties of the IPO are set out in other legislation, including:


* The Registered Designs Act 1949
* The [[Registered Designs Act 1949]]
* The Patents Act 1977
* The [[Patents Act 1977]]
* The [[Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988]]
* The [[Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988]]
* The Trade Marks Act 1994
* The [[Trade Marks Act 1994]]


Each of these Acts of Parliament has been extensively amended since it was first passed.
Each of these Acts of Parliament has been extensively amended since it was first passed.

===Manual of Patent Practice===
The Manual of Patent Practice sets out the relevant patent law and the operational practice of the Intellectual Property Office in relation to patents.<ref>Intellectual Property Office, [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/patents-manual-of-patent-practice Patents: Manual of Patent Practice], last updated (in the light of recent legal cases) on 1 July 2022, accessed 8 August 2022</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
{{details|History of patent law}}
{{details|History of patent law}}
[[File:The former Patent Office building, Southampton Buildings, WC2 - geograph.org.uk - 1271755.jpg|thumbnail|The former Patent Office headquarters in Southampton Buildings, London WC2.]]
[[File:The former Patent Office building, Southampton Buildings, WC2 - geograph.org.uk - 1271755.jpg|thumb|The former Patent Office headquarters in Southampton Buildings, London WC2]]
⚫
The forerunner of the '''Patent Office''', the Office of the Commissioners for Patents, was established by the Patents Law Amendment Act 1852 and opened on 1 October that year. While this is claimed as the date the modern Intellectual Property Office was created it was in fact created later, along with the office of the comptroller under the Patents, Designs and Trade Marks Act 1883 (s 82).

⚫
There had been a Patent Bill Office, under the control of the Attorney General, which was part of the old patent system. It had been located in Lincoln's Inn.


⚫
The forerunner of the '''Patent Office''', the Office of the Commissioners for Patents, was established by the [[Patent Law Amendment Act 1852]] and opened on 1 October that year. While this is claimed as the date the modern Intellectual Property Office was created it was in fact created later, along with the office of the comptroller under section 82 of the [[Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act 1883]] ([[46 & 47 Vict.]] c. 57).
⚫
Significantly, the process of applying for a patent was extremely complicated and largely set up to ensure fees were paid to various officials (patent fees formed a significant part of the stipend of the Attorney and Solicitor General). The Patents Law Amendment Act 1852 brought the process of patent grant into a single office serving the whole of the United Kingdom (where previously a petitioner had had to apply and pay fees to several offices, and to obtain separate patents for each of the UK's constituent nations).<ref>[http://www.ipo.gov.uk/about/history/history-office.htm Official website: History of the IPO.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803191459/http://www.ipo.gov.uk/about/history/history-office.htm |date=3 August 2014 }}</ref>


⚫
There had been a Patent Bill Office, under the control of the [[Attorney_General_for_England_and_Wales|Attorney General]], which was part of the old patent system. It had been located in [[Lincoln's Inn]].
⚫
Initially, people applying for a patent often used to submit a detailed model of their submission; these were retained and the collection became known as the Patent Museum (opened to the public in 1863 in South Kensington, it went on to become a core collection of the new [[Science Museum, London|Science Museum]] there).


⚫
Significantly, the process of applying for a patent was extremely complicated and largely set up to ensure fees were paid to various officials (patent fees formed a significant part of the stipend of the Attorney and [[Solicitor_General_for_England_and_Wales|Solicitor General]]). The Patent Law Amendment Act 1852 brought the process of patent grant into a single office serving the whole of the United Kingdom (where previously a petitioner had had to apply and pay fees to several offices, and to obtain separate patents for each of the UK's constituent nations).<ref>[http://www.ipo.gov.uk/about/history/history-office.htm Official website: History of the IPO.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803191459/http://www.ipo.gov.uk/about/history/history-office.htm |date=3 August 2014 }}</ref>
Despite having been established solely for the administration of patent law, in time the Patent Office took on other responsibilities, including registered designs in 1875 and registered trade marks in 1876. More recently, having also acquired responsibility for copyright regulation, the Patent Office has become known as the Intellectual Property Office.


⚫
Initially, people applying for a patent often used to submit a detailed model of their submission; these were retained and the collection became known as the Patent Museum (opened to the public in 1863 in [[South Kensington]], it went on to become a core collection of the new [[Science Museum, London|Science Museum]] there).
On 1 October 2008, the position of the Company Names Adjudicator was introduced under the [[Companies Act 2006]]. The Company Names Adjudicator's powers are enforced through the [[Company Names Tribunal]] which forms part of the Intellectual Property Office.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}


== Location ==
== Location ==
From its early days, the Patent Office was based in the Chancery Lane area of London, where it eventually spread to fill the area between Furnival Street and Southampton Buildings. The principal entrance was at 25 Southampton Buildings, where a purpose-built headquarters was constructed in 1899–1902 (architect: Sir [[John Taylor (architect)|John Taylor]]). The principal interior space was the Library, a "harsh but spectacular space 140ft long, lit from skylights and a clerestory, with two tiers of steel-framed, fireproofed galleries on cast iron Corinthian columns".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pevsner|first1=Nikolaus|last2=Bradley|first2=Simon|title=The Buildings of England – London 1: The City of London|date=1997|publisher=Penguin|location=London}}</ref> Designed to allow members of the public to consult patent records, it also contained a very extensive collection of technical and scientific publications, which in 1967 was transferred to the [[British Library]].
From its early days, the Patent Office was based in the [[Chancery Lane]] area of London, where it eventually spread to fill the area between Furnival Street and Southampton Buildings. The principal entrance was at 25 Southampton Buildings, where a purpose-built headquarters was constructed in 1899–1902 (architect: Sir [[John Taylor (architect)|John Taylor]]). The principal interior space was the Library, a "harsh but spectacular space 140ft long, lit from skylights and a [[clerestory]], with two tiers of steel-framed, fireproofed galleries on cast iron [[Corinthian_order|Corinthian columns]]".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pevsner|first1=Nikolaus| author-link1=Nikolaus_Pevsner| last2=Bradley|first2=Simon|title=The Buildings of England – London 1: The City of London|date=1997|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|location=London}}</ref> Designed to allow members of the public to consult patent records, it also contained a very extensive collection of technical and scientific publications, which in 1967 was transferred to the [[British Library]].{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}


In 1991, having outgrown its original premises, the Patent Office moved to [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], [[South East Wales]], where the IPO headquarters remains to this day. A small branch office in London has been maintained for the benefit of the large professional community based there and for communication with central government.
In 1991, having outgrown its original premises, the Patent Office moved to [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], [[South East Wales]], where the IPO headquarters remains to this day. A small branch office in London has been maintained for the benefit of the large professional community based there and for communication with central government.
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{{Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy}}
{{Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy}}
{{Europe topic|Patent office in|title=[[Patent offices in Europe]]|UK_only=yes}}
{{Patent offices in Europe}}
{{Science and technology in the United Kingdom}}
{{Science and technology in the United Kingdom}}


Revision as of 22:36, 24 March 2024

Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO)
TypeGovernment agency
Region served
United Kingdom
Chief Executive
Adam Williams
Parent organisation
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Websitegov.uk/intellectual-property Edit this at Wikidata

The Intellectual Property Office of the United Kingdom (often referred to as the UK IPO) is, since 2 April 2007, the operating name of The Patent Office.[1][2] It is the official government body responsible for intellectual property rights in the UK and is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).[3]

Responsibilities

The IPO has direct administrative responsibility for examining and issuing or rejecting patents, and maintaining registers of intellectual property including patents, designs and trade marks in the UK. As in most countries, there is no statutory register of copyright and the IPO does not conduct any direct administration in copyright matters.

The IPO is led by the Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who is also Registrar of Trade Marks,[4] Registrar of Designs[5] and Chief Executive of the IPO:

Substantive duties

The existence of the Patent Office and the post of Comptroller-General are required by the Patents and Design Act 1907 (though most of the remainder of this Act has been repealed), but the substantive duties of the IPO are set out in other legislation, including:

Each of these Acts of Parliament has been extensively amended since it was first passed.

Manual of Patent Practice

The Manual of Patent Practice sets out the relevant patent law and the operational practice of the Intellectual Property Office in relation to patents.[10]

History

Further information: History of patent law
The former Patent Office headquarters in Southampton Buildings, London WC2

The forerunner of the Patent Office, the Office of the Commissioners for Patents, was established by the Patent Law Amendment Act 1852 and opened on 1 October that year. While this is claimed as the date the modern Intellectual Property Office was created it was in fact created later, along with the office of the comptroller under section 82 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act 1883 (46 & 47 Vict. c. 57).

There had been a Patent Bill Office, under the control of the Attorney General, which was part of the old patent system. It had been located in Lincoln's Inn.

Significantly, the process of applying for a patent was extremely complicated and largely set up to ensure fees were paid to various officials (patent fees formed a significant part of the stipend of the Attorney and Solicitor General). The Patent Law Amendment Act 1852 brought the process of patent grant into a single office serving the whole of the United Kingdom (where previously a petitioner had had to apply and pay fees to several offices, and to obtain separate patents for each of the UK's constituent nations).[11]

Initially, people applying for a patent often used to submit a detailed model of their submission; these were retained and the collection became known as the Patent Museum (opened to the public in 1863 in South Kensington, it went on to become a core collection of the new Science Museum there).

Location

From its early days, the Patent Office was based in the Chancery Lane area of London, where it eventually spread to fill the area between Furnival Street and Southampton Buildings. The principal entrance was at 25 Southampton Buildings, where a purpose-built headquarters was constructed in 1899–1902 (architect: Sir John Taylor). The principal interior space was the Library, a "harsh but spectacular space 140ft long, lit from skylights and a clerestory, with two tiers of steel-framed, fireproofed galleries on cast iron Corinthian columns".[12] Designed to allow members of the public to consult patent records, it also contained a very extensive collection of technical and scientific publications, which in 1967 was transferred to the British Library.[citation needed]

In 1991, having outgrown its original premises, the Patent Office moved to Newport, South East Wales, where the IPO headquarters remains to this day. A small branch office in London has been maintained for the benefit of the large professional community based there and for communication with central government.

See also

References

  1. ^ The change was recommended in the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property, see Governance: Recommendation 53 Archived 11 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Intellectual Property Office web site. Consulted on 25 April 2008
  2. ^ "About us". GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 September 2021. The Intellectual Property Office became the operating name of The Patent Office on 2 April 2007.
  3. ^ Intellectual Property Office, Intellectual Property Office web site. Consulted on 16 January 2019
  4. ^ Section 62 of the Trade Marks Act 1994
  5. ^ Section 44(1) of the Registered Designs Act 1949
  6. ^ Patent Office press release Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, 20 March 2007
  7. ^ John Alty, Director General, Trade Policy
  8. ^ [1] Government website.
  9. ^ Chief Executive and Comptroller General, Intellectual Property Office web site.
  10. ^ Intellectual Property Office, Patents: Manual of Patent Practice, last updated (in the light of recent legal cases) on 1 July 2022, accessed 8 August 2022
  11. ^ Official website: History of the IPO. Archived 3 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Bradley, Simon (1997). The Buildings of England – London 1: The City of London. London: Penguin Books.

External links

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