The number of intellectual property registrations has been steadily growing over the last five years, according to new government statistics.
The Intellectual Property Office published a summary of registered rights in June, which showed that the number of trade mark registrations shot up from just under 77,000 in 2010 to a five-year high of 94,688 in 2014.
In the same period, design registrations rose by more than a quarter from 3,710 in 2010 to 4,901 in 2014.
The number of applications for patents increased from 21,917 in 2010 to 23,040 last year, although the number of patents actually granted in 2014 was the lowest in the last five years at 4,986, falling from a peak of more than 7,000 in 2011.
Businesses involved in developing new designs, products or technology need to ensure they protect their intellectual property rights, and their investment in innovation, to prevent others benefiting from their hard work.
At Palmers, we can assist with establishing, protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights, advising on non-contentious matters, including licensing, purchasing and selling intellectual property, as well as contentious matters, such as ownership disputes and infringement claims.
For more information on measures to protect intellectual property, or on how to take action where IP rights have been breached, please contact BJ Chong or Matthew Johnson.