About us

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, designs, trade marks and copyright.

We operate and maintain a clear and accessible intellectual property system in the UK, which encourages innovation and helps the economy and society to benefit from knowledge and ideas. We help people get the right type of protection for their creation or invention.

Who we are

The Intellectual Property Office became the operating name of The Patent Office on 2 April 2007. The Patent Office was set up in 1852 to grant patents, although the origins of the patent system date back a further 400 years.

We’re now a team of approximately 1600, with offices in Newport and London. The team is made up of specialists in rights-granting, IT, finance and HR.

We have ISO certification for the following:

  • ISO 45001 for our Occupational Health & Safety Management system
  • ISO 27001 for our IT security
  • ISO 14001 for our environmental management system
  • ISO 9001 the granting and registration of IP Rights

The quality policies are available on request.

For patents documentation, we are certified to BS 10008 Standard. BS 10008 is the British Standard that outlines best practice for the implementation and operation of electronic information management systems, including the storage and transfer of information. Trade Marks and Designs are also seeking to gain the BS 10008 Standard shortly.

In addition, we also hold Investor in People and Customer Excellence awards for our training and development of staff and commitment to customer service respectively.

Our responsibilities

We’re responsible for:

  • IP policy
  • educating businesses and consumers about IP rights and responsibilities
  • supporting IP enforcement
  • granting UK patents, trade marks and design rights

Our priorities

Our strategy and Intellectual Property Office Corporate Plan 2024 to 2025 set out how we help people and businesses grow the UK economy by providing an IP system that encourages investment in creativity and innovation. And they set out the framework of how we will deliver this mission, through:

  • high-quality, efficient and accessible services; and
  • policy which supports innovation and the wider economy; through
  • a high-performing organisation with skilled people connected by shared purpose

Corporate information

Access our information

Jobs and contracts

Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme. Find out about our commitment to Welsh language scheme. Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information.

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