Trademark applications to the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) exceeded 100,000 for the first time this year, new figures have revealed.
The finding forms part of the IPO’s annual report for 2018-19, highlighting “record levels of applications and engagement from more than 90,000 businesses”.
According to the figures, trademark applications grew from 87,500 in 2017-18 to over 100,000 in 2018-19.
Likewise, applications for designs grew from 21,900 in 2017-18 to 25,000 in 2018-19.
Explaining the surge in applications, the regulator said the growth is due to a rise in applications from China and EU member states, who are likely preparing for the UK’s imminent exit from the European Union.
Ensuring that domestic and overseas businesses are prepared for Brexit has been a major objective of the office, as well as implementing the EU Trade Mark Directive to better align UK legislation with our closest trading partners.
The report adds that the organisation has already “adapted its IT systems to support stakeholders to litigate and manage their rights upon EU Exit, regardless of exit scenario”.
The statistics also show that IPO reached out directly to some 90,000 businesses in regards to their intellectual property, with more than 80 per cent of those businesses able to make an informed decision about their IP as a result.
Commenting on the report, Tim Moss, Chief Executive of the IPO said: “This was a year of which the IPO can be proud. It not only met its Ministerial targets but also put in a strong performance right across the organisation, from processing record trademark and design applications and engaging with large numbers of businesses, to achieve 87.5 per cent customer satisfaction.”
To access the report in full, please click here.
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