IPO Transformation programme: second consultation

Closed 31 Oct 2023

Opened 22 Aug 2023

Contact

TransformationConsultation@ipo.gov.uk

Overview

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.

Why we are consulting

We are seeking views on a package of changes to improve services in support of the Intellectual Property Office’s (IPO) digital Transformation programme. 

The IPO’s Transformation programme is designed to modernise and improve the IPO’s services. By the end of 2025, we will have replaced our existing processes with a digital system for all registered IP rights (patents, trade marks and designs).  

In 2022, the IPO ran a first public consultation, which mainly focused on changes related the launch of the new digital patents service in 2024. The government response to that consultation was published on 1 August 2023. This will inform some of the potential legal and practice changes to enable transformation and the build of the service.

A second consultation is now necessary to inform and support the next phase of the programme, which is chiefly concerned with trade marks, designs and IPO tribunal services.

What is in the consultation?

This consultation sets out changes which the government considers may be needed in the following areas: 

  • online public document inspection service for trade marks and designs
  • rules governing public inspection of trade mark and design documents and requests for confidentiality
  • series trade marks
  • length of supplementary protection certificate fee payment periods
  • collection and publication of addresses for patent inventors
  • ways to encourage more mediation during IPO tribunal proceedings

How to respond

We ask for your responses to the questions highlighted in the consultation document.

We welcome responses from rights holders, IP specialists, small and large businesses, individuals, and those with a general interest in how the IPO conducts its business. 

You can respond using the online survey, or by sending your comments to TransformationConsultation@ipo.gov.uk.

Data protection (click to expand)

Information you provide in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be disclosed in accordance with UK legislation (the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004).

If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential please tell us, but be aware that we cannot guarantee confidentiality in all circumstances. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not be regarded by us as a confidentiality request. We will process your personal data in accordance with all applicable data protection laws. See our Privacy notice.

We will summarise all responses and publish this summary on GOV.UK. The summary will include a list of names or organisations that responded, but not people’s personal names, addresses or other contact details.

What happens next

The consultation has now closed. The government thanks everyone who has provided a response. We will consider all of the responses and publish a summary on GOV.UK, along with the government's response, in due course.