What We Do

CIPA is the professional and examining body for patent attorneys in the United Kingdom.

Founded by Royal Charter, our objectives are:

- to act as a professional and representative body for Intellectual Property Practitioners in patents, designs, trade marks and other forms of intellectual property; and
- to promote the education, standing, training and continuing professional expertise of Intellectual Property Practitioners and to establish, maintain and enforce high standards of professional conduct and compliance with the law.

We pursue these objectives by:

- Promoting the protected title of Chartered Patent Attorney (CPA) in the UK and internationally, and highlighting the importance of using qualified and regulated Intellectual Property Practitioners to obtain and protect intellectual property rights;
- Acting as a centre of excellence for the curation, development and dissemination of knowledge in intellectual property law and practice;
- Advising and influencing the UK Government and international bodies on intellectual property policy and practice;
- Maintaining the highest standards of professional practice and, as the Approved Regulator, overseeing the regulation of the profession by the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg), the independent regulatory body for patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys;
- Providing career-long education and training, supporting students during their professional formation and providing continuing professional development for Intellectual Property Practitioners;
- Raising public awareness of intellectual property and how to protect it, and increasing public knowledge of the intellectual property system through explanatory videos, case studies and other resources; and
- Providing pro bono information, advice and representation to the public.

CIPA’s Royal Charter and Bye-laws can be found here.

Need to protect your intellectual property?

Chartered Patent Attorneys enable businesses, large and small, and individual inventors to develop and protect their intellectual property (IP). CIPA’s members advise on the protection of all IP rights, including patents, trade marks, designs and copyright.

Chartered Patent Attorneys are expert in the acquisition of IP rights in the UK and around the world, from drafting patent, trade mark and design applications through to prosecuting these at national and international intellectual property offices. When things go wrong, CIPA’s members advise and represent businesses and individuals in disputes over IP rights.

In using a regulated Chartered Patent Attorney, you can be sure that your intellectual property is in the safest and most expert hands and that there are safeguards in place should a problem arise. For more information and to find a patent attorney, go here.

History and membership

The Institute is one of the oldest IP organisations in the world. CIPA was founded in 1882 and was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1891. We represent more than 99% of the UK’s 2,700 practising patent attorneys in industry and private practice. Total membership is over 4,500 and includes trainee patent attorneys, patent paralegals, judges, barristers and other IP professionals.

IPReg

As the approved regulator for the patent attorney profession in England and Wales, CIPA discharges its responsibilities in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) through an independent body, the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg). The Patent Examination Board (PEB) is a self-governing committee of CIPA, accredited by IPReg to oversee the administration and quality assurance of the examinations required to enter the register of patent attorneys maintained by IPReg and become a Fellow of CIPA.

People

CIPA is run by a Council of 27 members elected by the Fellows of the Institute.

- CIPA Staff Members
- CIPA Officers and Council Members

Committees

CIPA committees help to manage essential aspects of the UK’s intellectual property landscape and advocate for the profession by providing expert advice, opinion and comment at home and abroad. All committees report to CIPA Council. Their influence extends from business, media and academia to UK government and international policy.

Find out more.

Diversity

Principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) are embedded in CIPA’s business practices. The institute has a committee of members and a staff group who are dedicated to driving forward EDI improvements within CIPA and promoting them to the intellectual property industry as a whole.

Read our commitment to EDI.

To find out the latest EDI news from the staff group, the committee, or updates on our work with Jonathan’s Voice and IP Inclusive, go here.