Intellectual property patent grants fall.
The latest figures released by the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) show significant changes in applications and approvals. Annual Patent applications have increased to 22,701 but patent approvals have fallen significantly to just 5522. This is the lowest proportional approval rate, under 25%, for several years.
Annual UK Trademark applications have increased to 203,194, with 177,093 being approved, an approval rate of 87%. Design applications also increased to 79,542, with an annual approval rate of 93%
Brighton based IP advisor Clive Bonny MD at Strategic Management Partners comments “Behind these figures are important trends for all entrepreneurs and innovators. Patent applications from UK-based domestic applicants have increased 39% whilst international applicants have fallen. High patenting costs, often over £10000, with 75% failure rates, suggest UK-based innovators need to explore other protection routes such as trade secrecy. UK PLC cannot afford to lose valuable IP at birth.
Both trademark and design protection increases show healthy signs, especially as infringement costs are rising with Ai scooping and sharing unprotected IP. IPO fees remain very affordable with £205 for a trademark lasting 10 years and just £60 for a registered design. However 26000 rejected trademark applications suggest an increase in applicants failing to use a professionally qualified advisor, losing application fees and seeing their applications sent to existing registered owners for possible infringement actions. Clive adds “A qualified IP advisor should always offer a free opinion on applications risks and include a full search of similar registered and unregistered branding online.”
Source Clive@consult-smp.com