Research and analysis

HMRC intellectual property rights Application for Action research

Qualitative research into exploring the underlying reasons for engagement or lack of engagement with HMRC's 'Application for Action' service.

From:
HM Revenue & Customs
Published
26 February 2026

Documents

HMRC intellectual property rights Application for Action Research Report

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Details

Qualitative research into exploring the underlying reasons for engagement or lack of engagement with HM Revenue and Customs ‘Application for Action’ service.

HMRC commissioned Ipsos to conduct research into the underlying reasons for engagement or lack of engagement with AFA.

The research also focussed on the following key points:

  • businesses’ relationships with their IP rights

  • their experiences of counterfeiting

  • and both registered and lapsed businesses’ experiences with the AFA service

Finally, the research sought to understand development opportunities for the UK AFA service from the perspective of those who use it. The research findings will enable policymakers to design more targeted measures to improve the AFA process, strengthen IP enforcement, and better support businesses in protecting their intellectual assets.

Updates to this page

Published 26 February 2026

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