IPO annual report 2018 to 2019 reveals a record-breaking year
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has issued its annual report for 2018-2019 highlighting record levels of applications and engagement with more than 90 thousand businesses.
The IPO Annual Report 2018-19 reveals a record-breaking year for trade mark and design applications.
Trade mark applications to UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) grew from 87,800 to 100,000. Applications for designs increased from 21,900 to 25,000 during the 2018-19 period. The growth is due to a rise in applications from China and from EU member states. The latter are likely to be ensuring that their IP is registered with UK IPO in readiness for EU Exit.
The organisation has already adapted its IT systems to support stakeholders to litigate and manage their rights upon EU Exit, regardless of exit scenario.
IPO’s business outreach activities engaged with 90,000 businesses about their IP. Feedback shows that more than 80% of these felt able to make an informed decision about their IP as a result.
The IPO reports that it has worked hard to maintain excellent delivery of IP services, focussing on understanding customers’ needs. This has led to feedback that at least 85% of IPO customers rate the organisation 8/10 or higher for satisfaction.
Tim Moss, Chief Executive of the IPO said:
This was a year of which the IPO can be proud. It not only met its Ministerial targets, but also put in a strong performance right across the organisation, from processing record trade mark and design applications and engaging with large numbers of businesses, to achieving 87.5% customer satisfaction.
The IPO was named one of the most inclusive employers in Britain by LGBT equality charity Stonewall. It was also placed in the Top 100 Employers list for 2019 and achieved a Gold Award in the Mind Workplace Wellbeing. This is all testament to IPO’s endeavours to be a ‘brilliant place to work’.
Overseas, the IPO further developed its international role during the year, working with IP offices in China, Latin America, India and South East Asia to create a better environment for UK companies. It also helped to establish the first IP crime forum in Brazil and supported changes to Hong Kong’s IP court system, helping UK businesses to protect and enforce their IP rights abroad.