Government confirms commitment to European Patent Convention in its approach to CPTPP

We welcome the Government’s plans for accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), set out in its strategic approach. Membership of the CPTPP will open up new and growing markets to UK businesses.

Intellectual property (IP) plays an important part in protecting the rights of the UK’s innovative and creative industries and the UK is a world leader in the provision of IP legal services. CIPA particularly welcomes the Government’s positive commitment to remaining in the European Patent Convention (EPC), a pan-European patent system which has helped to establish UK patent attorneys as a pre-eminent supplier of IP legal services. It is important that the UK secures a deal to join the CPTPP which preserves membership of the EPC, not just for the UK businesses who rely on the European patent system to protect inventions but also businesses around the world, including in current CPTPP countries, who benefit from the expertise of UK patent attorneys when making patent applications through the European Patent Office (EPO).

We look forward to continuing to work with Government to realise its ambitions for the UK in joining the CPTPP and in maintaining and enhancing the UK’s IP system.

Date published: 22 June 2021