The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has revealed plans for a new digital system as part of its One IPO Transformation programme.
It said the Common IP System will be at the centre of a modernisation of its processes, systems and services, bringing together all registered IP rights for use by businesses, creatives and innovators.
It should also lay the ground for new services in the future.
Details have been outlined in the One IPO Transformation Prospectus. It says the system is scheduled to be built with all patents services moved onto by 2024, followed by trade marks and designs by 2026 then the further development of IP services.
The Common IP System will provide access to all of IPO’s services, enabling account holders to manage all their IP rights in one place.
Alongside this IPO plans to make all of its services paper-free, provide online chat, guidance and support features for real time advice, and develop analytics tools to help users search, query, interpret share data. There are also plans to use AI tools to improve the customer experience and accelerate the rights assessment process through online collaboration.
Upping the game
IPO CEO Tim Moss said: “We know that our customers value our first class culture and customer service, which already sets us apart. However, we also know that we do not meet our goal of excellent IP services, and our customers rightly expect more as the world we live in becomes increasingly digital by default.
“Our transformation programme is our pledge to up our game – to deliver excellent IP services that meet the needs of our customers.
“To achieve that we will not replicate what we do now, but completely transform the way we deliver services. This will not only result in more modern, flexible, digital services, but also opportunities to explore new services to help our customers protect, research and use their IP more effectively, reinforcing the UK’s place as a global innovation and IP leader.
“We know that helping our customers helps the UK economy, and we are passionate about playing our part to help both build back better.”
IPO is planning to run a series of user testing sessions for feedback from customers throughout the programme.
Image from iStock, Natalie Mis
