The Intellectual Property Office is the official government body responsible for granting Intellectual Property (IP) rights in the United Kingdom. These rights include:
- Patents
- Designs
- Trademarks
- Copyright
As part of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), they are responsible for the role of IP rights in supporting innovation.
Visit their website to get information on:
- What IP is
- Getting IP protection
- Managing your IP
- Other people’s IP
- IP abroad
- IP crime
Protecting your intellectual property
There are a variety of services to help you understand the protection of intellectual property (IP). Find out more below:
- Gov.uk provides a variety of advice on patents, design right, copyright, registered designs, trademarks, protecting IP
- Wessex Region of Technologists and Inventors is an innovation club meeting in its own room at Southampton Institute. Members register as students to access the Institute’s facilities, including library and workshops.
- Portsmouth Central Library is part of the Patent Information Centres, also known as Patent Libraries (PATLIBs); an alliance of UK libraries providing information on intellectual property, and covering patents, trademarks, designs and copyright. For more information, phone 023 9268 8044.