This recent Report by the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys called for UK government action in view of the decline in overseas patent filings by UK applicants. We wholly agree with CIPA’s conclusions and suggestions. We also view the report as an early warning to UK SME’s not to be complacent about either their access to export markets or the likely value of such markets.
The report is based on figures from the WIPO Global Innovation Index 2023. The Index found that the UK ranked significantly behind leading countries in the areas of: business sophistication, institutional effectiveness, and knowledge and technology output. Worryingly, on every measure that mentions patents, the UK lagged way behind the US, France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.
The UK does have a strong service sector – and CIPA’s report factors this in. However, the report still finds that the UK rates of patent filing in both the EPO and China are 20% to 40% behind France and Germany. With the EU still representing the UK’s main export market (46%), it would seem wise for UK SME’s to invest in protecting their access to such by way of robust European patent protection.
With this in mind, we join with CIPA’s call to the UK government to improve access to IP for SME’s and to engage with CIPA and the IP professions. We would also suggest to UK SME’s that they should review and strengthen their policies on obtaining patent protection in key export markets. Otherwise, they will run the real risk of falling even further behind their competitors.
We have extensive experience in patents in the UK, Europe and worldwide. If you need advice or assistance, then please contact us at: mail@morelandip.com.
