The UK Intellectual Property Office is born

By Simon Aughton

Posted on 5 Mar 2007 at 12:57

The UK Patent Office has announced that it plans to change its name to the UK Intellectual Property Office, in line with the recommendation of the Government's Gowers Review of Intellectual Property.

The new name is designed to reflect the Office's wider role, encompassing copyright and trademarks as well as patents.

'The [Gowers] report's main recommendations will help us to enforce intellectual property rights, and support British businesses both at home and abroad,' said Ron Marchant, the Office's chief executive.

The Gowers Review, set up by Chancellor Gordon Brown and chaired by former Financial Times journalist Andrew Gowers had considered whether to recommend the setting up of a separate copyright office, but instead concluded that all intellectual property issues should be overseen by a single organisation.

'Some stakeholders have suggested that a separate Copyright Office be established,' Gowers said. 'However, the Review believes that there are a greater number of synergies than differences across different forms of IP Policy, education, enforcement, business support, and awareness raising cut across the boundaries of all IP rights.'