IPAN brings together organisations and individuals drawn from business, commerce, education and the IP professions in the UK, all committed to championing the importance and understanding of IP as a vital ingredient for innovation and success of businesses, large and small.
IPAN events, publications, and research activities aim to stimulate and extend debate about the role and value of IP protection in all its forms. We are constituted as a not-for-profit, membership organisation, independent of any sector lobbying group, and committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion in all our activities.
IPAN membership is open to organisations and individuals (including students) with an interest in helping promote understanding of the value of IP to society. It currently includes those who use IP or depend on it in their business or profession, as well as IP educators, IP experts and economists, forming a unique, independent think-tank on IP awareness matters. The diverse background and experience of the IPAN membership is its key strength and we are keen to develop this further.
Find out more about IPAN here, becoming a member here, upcoming events here.
In the spotlight…
Geographical Indications – Food for thought?
The IPAN network meeting on 17th Nov 2022 (held at CIPA’s Holborn offices after IPAN’s 11th AGM), explored aspects of Geographical Indication (GI) protection for food, drink and non-agricultural products such as distinctive fabric goods. Some of the commercial opportunities and challenges of obtaining effective GI protection were brought out in the presentations by our guest speakers.
UK Minister for IP
George Freeman MP was appointed on 26 October 2022 as Minister for Science, Research and Innovation with responsibility for IP within the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
IPAN AGM 17th Nov 2022
At IPAN's 11th Annual General Meeting, held in person and by video-link on 17th November at CIPA's offices in Holborn, London. Dr Bola Olabisi, Chairwoman of GlobalWIIN, was elected as a director and Ian Wishart, and Associate Prof. Dr Janice Denoncourt, were...
Who Is Intellectual Property For? Inside The Movement To Democratize IP
In an August 2022 overview in Forbes, Stephen Key, a member of the Communications Committee of CIPU (Center for Intellectual Property Understanding) reviews from a US perspective the continuing need for effective IP education using practical stories of how IP is used to transform ideas into products and services that benefit others.
IPAN member Mandy Haberman keynote from Design Innovation in Plastics Award 2022
Access Mandy Haberman’s keynote presentation from the Design Innovation in Plastics Award 2022 here.
Guidebook to Intellectual Property, 7th Edition (Sir Robin Jacob, Matthew Fisher, Lynne Chave), Bloomsbury Publishing, July 2022
This new edition of the book provides an outline of the basic legal principles surrounding intellectual property, educating the reader as to the shape of the law.
Education
The Group draws on the wide experience in the broad IPAN membership of how IP education (or the lack of it) affects graduate career prospects.
Business & Finance
Establishing IP value and exploiting the economic potential of IP assets remain much of a mystery to businesses, financiers and investors. This Group is working to help get IP understood as a key asset class for business growth and economic development.
Parliamentary
This Group aims to ensure that IPAN is known to parliamentarians and businesses alike as an independent, unbiased, authoritative IP resource.