Policy Interests Group

Terms of reference

• The Policy Interests Group will include representatives from industry, the legal profession, small business and consumers, who share an interest in the range of intellectual property rights, including patents, trade marks, designs and other related rights where needed. It will be a small group, of no more than a dozen members, forming a key part of the Intellectual Property Office's wider consultation process.
• The Group will meet every three months and offer an opportunity for exchange of views between the Intellectual Property Office Policy Directorate (IPID) and invited representatives on current and forthcoming policy initiatives. In particular it will enable early warning of possible formal and informal consultation exercises, allow representatives to bring policy issues to the attention of IPID, and provide for discussion on consultation arrangements in particular cases.
• Membership of the Group is at the invitation of IPID, but due account will be taken of suggestions from members.
• Meetings of the Group will be chaired by the Director of IPID or their representative.
• The Group's remit shall not extend to matters normally discussed by the Patent Practice working group and the Registry Practice working group.
• Details of the group together with agendas and a brief unattributed note of each meeting will be posted on this website.