The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has published its “IP for a Creative and Innovative UK Strategy 2024 to 2027”; and identifies three “pillars” that will underpin its work in the three years ahead. These are:
- High quality, efficient and accessible services;
- Policy that supports innovation and the economy; and
- A high performing organisation, with skilled people connected by a common purpose.
The Strategy goes on to talk about the “transformation” being undergone at the UKIPO “that will make working with IP easier for everyone”. A key element of this is the ‘One IPO Transformation Programme’, which is intended to deliver a new integrated system to allow all registered IP rights to be managed in one place. This will be accompanied by improvements to the UKIPO’s customer service through increased use of automation, self-service options and a dedicated customer account. All of this is intended to make it easier for users to search and analyse data in one place, to allow them to “identify and exploit opportunities for innovation to help them grow their businesses”.
The UKIPO says that it will continue to develop and maintain guidance, with a particular emphasis on helping SMEs to realise the value of their IP. There is also a commitment to ensuring that existing domestic legislation adequately protects creators’ rights, advocating for chance where needed, and working with partners overseas to strengthen the protection and enforcement of IP rights.
All very admirable goals, and we look forward to seeing what this looks like in practice in the coming years.
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