United Kingdom - Protecting Intellectual Property UK Intellectual Property
The UK legal system provides a high level of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection. Enforcement mechanisms are comparable to those available in the United States. The UK is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The UK is also a member of the major intellectual property protection agreements: the Bern Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Universal Copyright Convention, the Geneva Phonograms Convention, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty. The UK has signed and, through implementing various EU Directives, enshrined into UK law the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performance and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT), known as the internet treaties.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property rights including patents, designs, trademarks and copyright. The IPO web site contains comprehensive information on UK law and practice in these areas:
The British government tracks and reports seizures of counterfeit goods and regards the production and subsequent sale as a criminal act. The IPO’s annual IP Crime and Enforcement Report highlights the incidence of IPC and the harm caused to the UK economy.
The Special 301 Report is an annual, congressionally-mandated review of the global state of intellectual property rights protection and enforcement. It is conducted by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to identify countries with commercial environments possibly harmful to intellectual property. The UK is not on the list.
IP lawyers are abundant in the United Kingdom; virtually every major U.S. law firm operates in the London market. For additional information about national laws and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles.
In any foreign market companies should consider several general principles for effective protection of their intellectual property. For background, please link to our article on Protecting Intellectual Property and Stopfakes.gov for more resources. Please also view the Stopfakes European Union IPR Resources which includes the EU IPR Toolkit.
IP Attaché Contact European Union
Susan Wilson
U.S. Mission to the European Union
Boulevard du Régent 27
BE-1000
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2-811-5308
E-mail : Susan.Wilson@trade.gov