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  Clinics

The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys holds regular clinics at a number of sites around the UK giving free basic advice to innovators who are at the early stages of developing an idea. The clinics are all given by a registered patent attorney who is a member of the Institute.

Below are listed the current sites for clinics and contact details for arranging an appointment. Many firms of patent attorneys will also offer the first consultation free of charge, so if there is not a clinic listed locally, you could contact a local firm of attorneys, for a geographically-sorted list click here.


Birmingham

Business Insight, Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3HQ. Every Wednesday evening - appointment necessary.
Tel: 0121 303 4531
Fax: 0121 303 1354
E-mail: business.library@birmingham.gov.uk

The library also offers weekday appointments [for further information on weekday clinics please contact Business Insight on the details above].

Each appointment will consist of a one hour confidential consultation with a specialist patent and IP information officer/librarian. These apointments may include:

  • assistance in constructing a search strategy for patents, trade marks or registered design;
  • referral to other agencies for professional help and funding; and
  • supply of and basic guidance on procedures and forms for registration of IP rights.

Leeds

Business & Patent Services, 3rd Floor Suite, Central Library, Municipal Building, Calverley Street, Leeds, LS1 3AB. Once a month - Monday evening - appointment necessary. Contact: Ms Stef Stephenson - Tel: 0113 247 8266 Fax: 0113 247 8268 Email: piu@leeds.gov.uk.

Leeds Inventors Group
Talks, advice and networking for inventors and entrepreneurs Monthly in the Central Library Tel: 0113 247 8266 to book your place.



Liverpool

Patent clinics in Liverpool will be suspended from July 2010 due to the closure of Liverpool Central Library for redevelopment. We hope to continue them later in the year at a new location.

Please contact Ruth Grodner 0151 233 5835 or email ruth.grodner@liverpool.gov.uk



London

Please send any queries and payment to: The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, 95 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1DT. Clinics are held at The Intellectual Property Office, 21 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3HF, every Tuesday evening - appointment necessary.
Contact Anna Chappel at The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys - Tel: 020 7405 9450.

For travel directions to the Intellectual Property Office, at 21 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3HF please click here.


Manchester

City Library, Elliot House, 151 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WD Every third Tuesday of the month 2.00p.m. to 6.00p.m. - appointment necessary.

Contact: Manchester Patent Library on 0161 234 1397 or e-mail patlib@manchester.gov.uk


Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Newcastle Libraries’ Patent Advice Service takes place on Wednesday mornings and Friday afternoons. We offer free 1-2-1 advice in one hour appointments. We also have a range of free guides. Sessions take place on Level 1 at Newcastle City Library, just 2 minutes walk from Monument metro station. Customers can find out more information at: http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/bips.

Address: City Library, Charles Avison Building, 33 New Bridge Street West, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8AXtel: 0191 2774100, email: information@newcastle.gov.uk


Newport, South Wales

With the assistance of the CIPA the Intellectual Property Office in Newport is now running regular clinics for individuals seeking basic advice on patents, trade marks, designs etc. You can discuss your ideas or problems with one of the duty chartered patent attorneys for half-an-hour at no charge. An Examiner from the Intellectual Property Office will also take part in the clinic. A £25 deposit must be paid before appointments will be confirmed. The deposit will be returned when you attend the clinic but will not be returned if you if you don’t attend without giving us sufficient notification. Click here for details of the venue, the next dates and to book online.


Plymouth

Free guidance is given by PatLib UK, University of Plymouth, Business Link, Taymar Science Park and N.J. Akers and Co., patent and trade mark attorneys.

The 'One Stop Ideas Shop' will run every 2nd Monday of each month, 15:00 pm - 19:00 pm
Contact: 0800 052 5600 or e-mail enterprise@plymouth.ac.uk



Sheffield

Reference and Information Library, Central Library, Surrey Street, Sheffield S1 1XZ
Email:information.library@sheffield.gov.uk

One day 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. every month - appointment necessary.
Contact: Lynne Hinchliff - Tel: 0114 2734736/37 or e-mail: information.library@sheffield.gov.uk.


Southampton

Library Office, Central Library, Civic Centre, Southampton, SO14 7LW. 5-7 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month.
Contact: The Library Office on 023 8083 4645 before 2 p.m. or
E-mail business.library@southampton.gov.uk .



Other advice and assistance

Some libraries offer basic patent advice, mostly on searching.