The Government says that the proposed changes will update the law and remove legal barriers, allowing the IPO to be more innovative and deliver better digital services. They will also address current inconsistencies between different IP rights.

There are two parts to the consultation and respondents can respond to either or both:

1. Part A focuses on proposed changes to the law to enable digital transformation of the IPO’s services; the IPO is seeking evidence and views on a range of options on how legislation could be altered to better support innovation; and
2. Part B focuses on proposed changes to improve the IPO’s tribunal function and align processes that should work in a similar way across rights.

The consultation is a key strand of the “One IPO” transformation programme, which will provide a single, integrated system across all IP rights and vastly improved digital services.

The Government is seeking a range of evidence and views from businesses, representative organisations, and legal practitioners on proposals covering a wide range of areas, including:

• standardising some legislative requirements across IP rights;
• the use of artificial intelligence and automation;
• greater flexibility on fees;
• improvements to the tribunals function; and
• the types of media that can be used in patent applications.

The One IPO service will start being rolled out to the first patent customers a year from now. Trade marks and designs will be added in 2025.

Early details and demonstrations of the One IPO service have already been shared with customers for parts of the new service, including the new IPO customer accounts and the new patents application service. However, changes in legislation, not just technology, are needed to allow the IPO to deliver best-in-class services and remain fit for the future.

The consultation closes on 6 January 2023. To read the IPO’s news release in full and for a link to the consultation, click here.