Regulator profile
IPO
Intellectual Property Office
Enforcement Regulator3 areas of regulation · 423 official guidance documents · UK-wide
What IPO does
Registration and protection of intellectual property rights. Administers patents, trade marks, designs, and provides copyright guidance. Gateway for IP protection in the UK.
Additional information
Not strictly a regulator (IP rights are civil law) but essential for IP protection.
Contact IPO
Types of regulation
Intellectual Property
Patents
Trademarks
Official guidance from IPO
Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.
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Search the trademark register
Detailed Guidance
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Register a trademark
Detailed Guidance
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Copyright guidance
Detailed Guidance
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Intellectual property guidance (GOV.UK)
Detailed Guidance
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IPO: AI and copyright consultation
Detailed Guidance
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Renew your trademark
Detailed Guidance
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What you can register as a trademark
Detailed Guidance
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Register your product designs
Detailed Guidance
Related legislation
Legislation connected to IPO's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Administered / monitored
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Patents Act 1977
UK Act of Parliament 1977 -
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
UK Act of Parliament 1988 -
Design Right (Semiconductor Topographies) Regulations 1989
UK Statutory Instrument 1989 -
Trade Marks Act 1994
UK Act of Parliament 1994 -
Olympic Symbol (Protection) Act 1995
UK Act of Parliament 1995 -
Copyright and Rights in Databases Regulations 1997
UK Statutory Instrument 1997 -
Patents (Supplementary Protection Certificates) Rules 1997
UK Statutory Instrument 1997 -
Register of Patent Agents and the Register of Trade Mark Agents (Amendment) Rules 1999
UK Statutory Instrument 1999 -
Registered Designs Regulations 2001
UK Statutory Instrument 2001 -
Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003
UK Statutory Instrument 2003 -
Community Design Regulations 2005
UK Statutory Instrument 2005 -
Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006
UK Statutory Instrument 2006 -
London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006
UK Act of Parliament 2006 -
Registered Designs Rules 2006
UK Statutory Instrument 2006 -
Patents (Compulsory Licensing and Supplementary Protection Certificates) Regulations 2007
UK Statutory Instrument 2007 - … and 18 more
Sectors regulated
Manufacturing
Coverage area
UK-wide