UK-IPO Publishes 2008 Corporate Plan

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

27 June 2008

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) has published its Corporate Plan for 2008, outlining its business plans and framework for the year ahead.

Commenting on the Plan's publication, Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, the Minister for Intellectual Property and Quality, observed that:

"Intellectual Property (IP) is an essential component in ensuring the UK’s future economic prosperity. Successful translation of creativity, ideas, insights and reputations into value is one of the critical determinants of our prosperity. The IP system enables businesses to capture value from innovation."

"It is the Government’s ambition to make the UK the leading place where innovative businesses, public services and third sector organisations can thrive through creating more effective products, services, processes and organisations."

She continued:

"This Plan sets a very clear and dynamic programme of activity for the next three years. It commits the UK-IPO to
creating the conditions in which IP can be used effectively and appropriately within the innovation ecosystem. I fully endorse the approach taken and support the UK-IPO as it embarks on its journey with pace, commitment and a clear expectation to succeed."

Ian Fletcher, Chief Executive and Comptroller General with the UK-IPO added that:

"It is more vital than it has ever been that UK businesses should have an IP system that is as well-designed and as smoothly operating as it possibly can be. We must continue to maintain the delivery of high quality and timely statutory services to our customers."

"This presents a huge and exciting challenge to everybody who works in the UK-IPO. It means that in our rights granting and tribunal work we must combine our traditionally high standards of judgement and efficiency with the ability to meet the rising expectations of customers, as they seek to compete in the global
economy."

"It means that more than ever it is essential that in our policy work we contribute to creating the right legal framework. It also obliges us to recognize that as well as providing first class services and getting the legal framework right, we must redouble our efforts to ensure we understand how far UK firms and institutions are making the best decisions to turn IP into value, and that we are providing the support they need to help them do that."

He concluded: "These are diverse challenges. I am convinced we can meet them, and we will do so by recognising that actually there is a single common theme to all of them: making sure that all the activities of the Office ultimately support businesses competing in a global economy."

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