The UK Intellectual Property Office ( UK Intellectual Property Office , abbreviated as “ UK-IPO ”) is the leading UK government agency responsible for the development and management of intellectual property policies, under the full auspices of the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills ( en: Department for Innovation , Universities and Skills - DIUS). UK-IPO shares some copyright work with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport ( en: Department of Culture, Media and Sport ). The influence of the UK-IPO does not extend to the rights of plant breeders ( en: plant breeders' rights ) - these rights are administered by the Plant Variety Rights Office, which is an agency of the Department of Environment, Food, and Agriculture ( en: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ). Until April 2, 2007, the UK-IPO was called The Patent Office. [one]
The UK Intellectual Property Office has direct administrative responsibility for researching, issuing or rejecting patents , and maintaining the registration of intellectual property, including patents, designs and trademarks in the UK.
The existence of the Patent Office and the post of Controller is required by the Patent and Design Act of 1907 (although most of the remnants of this law were repealed), however, the independent modes of operation of the Patent Office are set forth in other laws, including:
- The Registered Designs Act 1949
- The Patents Act 1977
- The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
- The Trade Marks Act 1994
Since 1991, the UK Patent Office, now known as the UK Intellectual Property Office, had its headquarters in Newport , South Wales , but a small branch was opened in London to serve the government, large institutions and enterprises.
Notes
- ↑ The change was recommended in en: Gowers Review of Intellectual Property . Source: Governance: Recommendation 53 Archived October 11, 2008. , UK Intellectual Property Office website. Consulted on 25 April 2008.