Annual Technical Report on Trademark Information Activities in 2023 submitted by United Kingdom
I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADEMARK INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of trademark information activities and expected time frames for their realization
Trade Mark examination have fully embedded the new quality assessment process reviewing a proportion of high-risk cases in real time before they are issued to the customer.
We know how important our quality of service is to our customers. Over the last year we have been developing and trialling a measure to assess the quality of our work across the examination process in Trade Marks and Designs and searches, examinations and amendments in Patents. We are now in a position to be ale to publish our quality performance, which we will do on a quarterly basis from July 2024 via our Customer Service Standards page on the IPO website IPO customer service standards - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). We intend to continue to develop this metric and consider how we can incorporate the customer view into our assessment process.
The office has recruited 47 trade mark examiners to keep up with customer demand and to maintain service standards.
The process for examiners to progress to senior examiners was reviewed, with amendments made to streamline the process whilst ensuring it was fit for purpose and incorporated relevant technical training courses.
New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
In 2023/24, we consulted on our proposals for the second phase of our transformation programme. We will undertake the initial exploratory phases relating to our processes for trade marks and designs before we start designing and building them. We expect to pilot these services in late 2025.
Our new research IP service is working towards making our data more accessible than ever before with new ways to search, view and analyse it. Users will be able to take more informed decisions regarding their IP, so that it is easier to innovate in the UK.
Data relating to trade marks will be made available through this service in the next phase of our transformation programme.
The transformation project has created and delivered new MIBI reports using Power BI for trade marks, upgrading to a new platform for reports to be stored on, allowing for decommission of old platforms.
Main areas of trademark information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
Further improvements were made to the website guidance by renaming all forms to clarify for customers when to use each form and the supporting guidance was simplified.
Simplification of Trade Marks, Patents and Designs landing pages to allow customers access to the frequently used areas.
Improved guidance on the legal entity section on the online application form.
Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
Domestic Filings- Financial Year
2019/20 89904 (increase of 3.2%)
2020/21 140959 (increase of 56.8%)
2021/22 152273 (increase of 8.0%)
2022/23 109564 (decrease of 28.0%)
2023/24 135710 (increase of 23.9%)
International Registrations- Financial Year
2019/20 17025 (increase of 28.1%)
2020/21 20313 (increase of 19.3%)
2021/22 34996 (increase of 72.3%)
2022/23 31734 (decrease of 9.32%)
2023/24 29783 (decrease of 6.15%)
International Applications -Financial Year
2019 /20 2978 (increase of 4.8%)
2020/21 3551 (increase of 17.5%)
2021/22 4418 (increase of 24.4%)
2022/23 4043 (decrease of 8.49%)
2023/24 3836 (decrease of 5.12%)
Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.
Statistics related to trade marks at the Intellectual Property Office can be accessed through the annual reports, monthly reviews and facts and figures at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/monthly-statistics-patents-trade-marks-and-designs-march-2024
II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs
Domestic filings - information regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-register-a-trade-mark
International filings – information regarding filing an International Application (can only file via paper) can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protecting-your-uk-intellectual-property-abroad/protecting-your-trade-mark-abroad
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
Trade marks can be searched by application number, owner, keyword, phrase or image at: https://www.gov.uk/search-for-trademark
Use of electronic classification systems and pre-defined terms of the classification applied
Information regarding classifying can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-classify-trade-marks
Matters concerning processing of different types of non-traditional marks (e.g., three-dimensional, motion, hologram, colour mark, etc.)
Information regarding types of marks which can be registered can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/how-to-register-a-trade-mark/what-you-can-and-cant-register
Guidance on different types of non-traditional marks can also be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/trade-marks-manual/the-examination-guide
Other activities
The IPO is an active participant in WIPO’s Standing Committee on the Law of Trade Marks, Industrial Designs & Geographical Indications and meets with other participating offices at WIPO during Madrid Working Group.
III. SOURCES OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE
Main types of publications in the field of trademark information, outline of the content and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)
Trade Marks Journal is published every week on a Friday and contains accepted applications for UK Trade Marks and International Trade marks that include the UK: This is only available in digital form.: https://www.gov.uk/check-trade-marks-journal
Trade Marks Act 1994 makes up part of the trade mark legislation in the UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trade-marks-act-1994
Trade Mark Rules: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trade-marks-rules
Manual of Trade Mark Practice sets out guidance on the Intellectual Property Office work practices: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/manual-of-trade-marks-practice
Practice Amendment Notices (PAN) announces changes to our practice, such as how we interpret a provision of the law, or how we handle applications:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/practice-amendment-notices-pan
Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online, URL), etc.
The Trade Marks Journal is published every week on a Friday and contains accepted applications for UK Trade Marks and International Trade Marks that include the UK: This is only available in digital form.
https://www.gov.uk/check-trade-marks-journal
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases.
Examiners use the Manual of Trade Marks Practice, the Trade Marks Act 1994, Trade Mark Rules, case law and research trade mark applications on the Internet. They also liaise with Patent Examiners if the trade mark is of a technical nature. International examiners utilise the Madrid Protocol and the regulations via the WIPO website. In addition, examiners utilise DARTS IP, which is a comprehensive database of caselaw and other IP related information. Examiners use the Oxford English Dictionary for definitions and include screenshots of definitions in reports.
Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
Our main office is located in Newport, Wales, where the public can file applications and discuss possible IP protection with an IPO Advisor over the phone or in person via appointment. In addition, we also have a front office in London where customers can file any correspondence for the attention of the Office.
Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
The legal status is contained on the UK Register and may be searched by application number, owner, key phrase, or word: https://www.gov.uk/search-for-trademark
Other sources
Nothing to report.
IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
We use Acsepto version 11, which is a stand-alone search system used by examiners to search for earlier Trade Marks.
Real Time Sampling Dashboard – this collates the results from our quality checks and supports in highlighting any trends relating to quality.
Knowledge Information Board (KIB) – we have recently reviewed all the information we held internally on our sharepoint and moved it to a KIB, which is a more user-friendly system and allows our staff to access all the information they need to support trade mark related activities.
Hardware used to support business processes of the Office
Staff access a Windows 10 desktop via Microsoft Surface Pro devices, which are connected to two 24 inch widescreen monitors via a dock or one 32 inch monitor.
Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
UKTM – database used to process domestic applications.
MPS – database used to process International Applications and Registrations.
KIB – knowledge information base used to support trade mark related activities
Sharepoint – information to support trade mark related activities
Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
New applications and amendments to existing UK Trade Marks are published to our search repository every 10 minutes and are available using our Trade Mark Number and/or Owner electronic search services. New or amended images can take up to 24 hours to appear as they are processed overnight on a daily basis.
The keyword, phrase or image search service utilises information stored in our Acsepto search tool which is updated on a daily basis.
Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
Management information is produced from UKTM and MPS.
Other matters
We are in the early stages of Transformation, this will include a huge change to our ICT and will improve things for the future. We are excited about the changes ahead, but don’t have any specific details to share at this time.
V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION
Office's library (if deals with trademark information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries
The UK Patent Library (PatLib) network is part of the 340-strong European Network of Patent Information Centres, managed by the European Patent Office.
The UK PATLIB Network’s main aims are: -
- To enable easy access to IP information locally;
- To provide an effective, efficient IP information service to the general public and businesses.
The UK IPO supports the UK Patlib Network who provide local access to guidance and support through a network of 25 centres based within city centre libraries. The centres have trained, experienced staff to provide practical support to businesses, such as database searching. A recent evaluation of the centres demonstrated that they had supported 48,725 people in 2022/23, providing IP information guidance and support to new prestart, start-up and growing businesses.
The majority of the UK PatLibs are part of the national network of Business & IP Centres (BIPC), which was started by the British Library in 2012 in partnership with the IPO. The network now consists of 21 established centres, located across England and Scotland. The UK IPO works with the British Library to ensure all centres meet the PatLib requirements to deliver specialised IP services.
In the three-year period, April 2020 to March 2023, the BIPC supported a total of 62,876 individuals, through a combination of 17,831 in-person and online one-to-ones, 4,314 workshops or webinars and 1,121 in-person, online or hybrid events.
In addition, BIPC Network staff responded to 51,591 business enquiries, providing aspiring entrepreneurs and established business owners with key information. Of the BIPC users who went on to start a new business, 72% were women (60% in London), 26% identified themselves as from a minority ethnic community (e.g. Black British, British Asian, British Chinese, etc.) (43% in London) and 10% had a disability (14% in London). (Democratising Entrepreneurship 2.0, 2023[1]).
Training to deliver these services has been supplied by the IPO through the IP Master Class programme as well as ongoing individual training sessions as needed.
Publications related to different business procedures and trademark information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
Our main office is located in Newport, Wales, where the public can file applications and discuss possible IP protection with an IPO Advisor over the phone or in person via appointment. In addition, we also have a front office in London where customers can file any correspondence for the attention of the Office.
Information regarding trade mark procedures can be found via our website www.ipo.gov.uk.
[1] 11351-BIPC_Democratising_Entrepreneurship_2023_Digital-Press.pdf (librariesunlimited.org.uk)
Cooperation with universities, technology, and innovation support centres, etc.
The IPO works with universities, researchers and entrepreneurs to improve understanding how to identify, manage, protect, and use IP to support careers, research, business, commercialisation, and collaboration. This includes the:
- IP Tutor and IP Tutor Plus resources targeting key subject disciplines, with independent and trainer-led resources for students, academics, and educators.
- IP for Research education programme to help researchers understand how IP fits into their research and the commercialisation process.
We are currently working with the sector to update our Intellectual Asset Management guidance to help university leaders and researchers make informed decisions about their IP. This supports UK government’s goal of ensuring that research excellence translates into effective industrial and commercial application.
The IPO’s resources are comprehensive and available in formats that can be tailored to specific needs. All our tools and guidance to support innovation and knowledge exchange are freely available at https://www.ipo.gov.uk/ip-support/
Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
As the innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow, it is vital that students learn how to identify, use, and protect their IP as well as respect others' IP. We have a comprehensive strategy to build the IP critical skills needed to support careers, innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. We believe it is important to educate people about IP across all levels and stages of education. We want students to start their careers equipped with an understanding of IP and for educators to have the skills to pass on that knowledge.
We have developed an IP Education Framework that sets out the IP knowledge needed across all levels and stages of education, from primary schools to higher education. To support use of the Framework, we produce and promote accessible, engaging resources for teachers to incorporate IP in core syllabus subjects. These free, curriculum-led lesson plans and resources have been co-created with educators and partners such as UK Music, Aardman Animations and the Industry Trust, to ensure they align with the school curriculum. Our education resources are available on our IP-Support Website at www.ipo.gov.uk/ip-support and resources specifically for schools can also be found at www.crackingideas.com. This site has global reach with around 31,000 site visits each year.
We also work with international partners to promote the importance of IP education and exchange information on our respective approaches. We recently proposed a project to WIPO members on enhancing IP education capacities of artistic and creative academic institutions to equip youth with IP skills. The project was adopted on 1 May.
Our business outreach activities continue to help businesses make informed decisions how to use, manage, and enforce their IP to its full potential. This is done in a range of ways including attending in person and virtual events, delivering training and working with partner organisations to integrate IP support into business support programmes. We also provide IP Masterclass training for businesses and business advisors. Courses are offered online, in person at the IPO’s main office and in regional locations. The Trade Mark section of the course focuses on the application process and explains how having a distinctive brand registered as a trade mark can benefit businesses.
We have also developed a range of digital tools for businesses. By adopting a ‘digital first’ approach we can increase the scope and reach of our tools to a diverse and global audience. IP: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/intellectual-property-for-business
In addition, the UK government is taking steps to support public sector understanding of IP and wider knowledge assets to inform government policy making and the management of public sector assets. The UK IPO is developing targeted government IP education programs to help upskill public sector workers and promote an understanding and appreciation of the importance of IP and IP rights to the innovation ecosystem. We have launched the IP for Government eLearning on the IPO’s website here: IP for Government | Intellectual Property Office (ipo.gov.uk).
Trade Mark examination offers support for the IPREG accredited courses for a trade mark qualification.
Other activities
We have a range of digital content which we use to promote and explain the different types of Intellectual property. IP BASICS: What is Intellectual Property? (youtube.com) We use our social media channels to promote this content.
VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION
International exchange of trademark information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)
The Trade Marks Journal is published every week on a Friday and contains accepted applications for UK Trade Marks and International Trade marks that include the UK: https://www.gov.uk/check-trade-marks-journal
Trade marks can be searched by application number, owner, key phrase, word or image Search by flag, emblem or hallmark using the Article 6ter Express database at: https://www.gov.uk/search-for-trademark
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to trademark information
Trade Marks took part in a series of regional “Roadshows” organised by CITMA providing relevant information to their members.
Representatives from Trade Marks went to the INTA conference in Washington DC, including speaking at panels and discussions with INTA committees.
Examiner Technical Leads (ETLs) in Trade Marks provided webinars to CITMA on Cert & Collects and top tips for filing TM applications.
Assistance to developing countries
Between August 2023 and February 2024, IPO has provided monthly trade mark training sessions to colleagues in the Bermuda and Cayman Islands offices, covering trade mark law and practice. A series of six virtual monthly training sessions provided by Examiner Technical Leads covered the UK’s approach to topics such as distinctiveness, deceptiveness, consideration of earlier rights and the filing of evidence of acquired distinctiveness.
IPO also took part in INTA’s ‘Dialogue with Selected Caribbean Offices’ where colleagues from the Transactions team, Legal Team and Trade Mark Practice outlined the office’s practice and processes around assignments and classification.
Other activities
The IPO provide reports to World Trade Organisation on TRIPS Agreement, TRIPS responses details work done with other offices and relate to all areas of IP, reporting on activities around technology transfer and technical cooperation.
VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS
Nothing to report.