New president of CIPA sets sights on reforming IP enforcement and tackling delays – in UK and internationally

Published: 20 May 2010
By: Peter Prowse

Alasdair Poore, who was formally elected President of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys at the annual general meeting on 19 May, told members that during his presidency CIPA will continue to press for reforms to IP enforcement and will address UK industry’s concerns about delays in some parts of the international IP system.

“CIPA members represent businesses ranging from the largest multinationals to individual inventors, universities, charities and government research,” he told his audience at the AGM at CIPA’s offices in Chancery Lane, London. “For all of them, intellectual property has become a key ingredient for success. Economic concerns press at the doors of all business. At the same time, intellectual property is ever more important in promoting innovation and success for businesses of all sizes, and for maintaining the competitiveness of the UK in international markets.”

The new CIPA President added that the Institute will be working on all areas of intellectual property – pressing for implementation of reforms in enforcement procedures both in the UK and in Europe for patents, trade marks and other IP rights, on addressing delays in obtaining protection in patent offices throughout the world.

He also reassured patent attorneys that CIPA would continue to implement the new UK regulatory regime designed to ensure clients can continue to have confidence in patent attorneys.

“The IP profession’s new regulatory regime marks at least two achievements of the Institute over many years,” he explained. “The first is that by having clear professional standards – in education and conduct – UK patent attorneys have established their professional reputation, not just in the UK but worldwide. The second is that patent attorneys are now clearly recognised as one of the legal professions in the England.”
 
Alasdair Poore reminded his audience about CIPA’s work in promoting the UK’s IP interests internationally and pledged to continue his predecessors’ efforts to raise the UK profession’s profile abroad.

“As a representative organisation, we have been working with institutes in other countries to promote the UK profession. That will grow in importance over the coming years. IP has changed from having a national focus and moved into a progressively international framework. It is vital that the Institute works to maintain the profile of the UK profession in an internationally competitive market. We have meetings with attorneys from China, Korea, Australia, Canada, the US, Japan and many other places, as well as close interaction with those in Europe. I believe this should be a growing activity, so that the profile of the UK profession is as high as possible.”

Speaking just a few days after a group of over 70 newly-qualified patent attorneys were admitted to the profession, Alasdair Poore urged younger members to get involved in shaping CIPA’s future direction. “We also want thoughts from newer members of the profession. Unless you come forward and say what we should do, CIPA’s Council will fondly believe that its perception of the world is a completely accurate reflection of reality. Please disillusion us.”

Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg)

IPReg was established by CIPA, the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, and ITMA, the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, in April 2009, as an independent body with responsibility to the Legal Services Board (LSB) to comply with the regulatory provisions of the Legal Services Act of 2007. IPReg is responsible for patent and trade mark attorneys and firms of trade mark and patent attorneys who are listed on the official Registers covering each profession. The Registers can be accessed at www.ipreg.org.uk.

Alasdair Poore

Alasdair Poore lives in Duxford with his wife and daughter and works in Cambridge.  After qualifying as a barrister, he worked for seven years on patents and licensing at Shell UK. He was a partner in a City of London law firm specialising in intellectual property before returning to Cambridge to join Mills & Reeve. Alasdair has substantial experience on the exploitation of and protection of ideas and research emanating from both public institutions and private companies. He is also a Registered Trade Mark Attorney and Registered Patent Attorney.

Alasdair read law and natural sciences at Cambridge University (St Catherine's College). His hobbies include real tennis, cycling and building robots.