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On 2 April 2007, the Patent Office changed its name to the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO).

The Gowers Report, published on 6 December 2006, recommended this change because the title “Patent Office” did not reflect the entire range of responsibilities and undertakings attributable to that body.

There was evidenced confusion as to whether the Patent Office was responsible for areas such as copyright, trade marks, and designs. The Government subsequently accepted these recommendations, and under the new title it is clear that the UK IPO is responsible for all areas of Intellectual Property.

The Report’s principal recommendations will help the UK-IPO to enforce Intellectual Property Rights while supporting British businesses in the UK and abroad.

The UK-IPO will trade under the new name while waiting for a number of legal changes to be made. A Name Change fact sheet can be found at www.patent.gov.uk for further information.