UK Intellectual Property Office – Library

The UK Intellectual Property Office (The Patent Office) is responsible for Intellectual Property (Copyright, Designs, Patents and Trade Marks) in the UK. A number of useful documents are available on the website:

• Intellectual Property in Government Research Contracts: Guidelines for Public Sector Purchasers of Research and Research Providers
• Intellectual Asset Management for Universities – provides advice and information to universities to help them understand how they can best use their institution’s intellectual property. While this publication is aimed at universities, most of the advice on intellectual asset management applies equally to HSC/NHS bodies. In particular the guide includes references to the European Commission Recommendation on the management of intellectual property in knowledge transfer activities and the associated code of practice for universities and other public research organisations.
• Patents: Basic Facts
• Trademarks: Essential Reading
• Copyright: Basic Facts
• Design: Basic Facts
• Confidentiality and Confidential Disclosure Agreements