UK Trade Mark Attorneys in the Heart of Europe

The British Ambassador to Germany, Sir Michael Arthur, gave a keynote address using the impressively modern architecture of the Embassy building to demonstrate how Britain is both at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and design and at the heart of Europe.  He said that the UK's trade mark profession, in the form of ITMA, was a pivotal gateway to Europe for non-EU countries wishing to protect their trade marks in Europe through the Community Trade Mark (CTM) system and, worldwide, through the International Registration system of the Madrid Protocol.

ITMA President, Gillian Deas, added: "The UK has many advantages over our European counterparts in protecting trade marks.  For instance, the UK is one of the very few countries that require its members to pass stringent professional examinations.  Once qualified, we ensure they keep up to date with compulsory continuing professional development.  We have extensive dealings with the regulatory authorities, not only in the UK (UK-IPO), but also in Europe (OHIM) and worldwide through WIPO, all bodies that use English as their dominant language which clearly puts the UK profession at an advantage."

"We firmly believe the UK Profession is the best in the world and that we are best placed to help overseas colleagues register and protect their clients' trade marks.  It is for these reasons that we co-hosted the reception at the British Embassy and were delighted that the Ambassador agreed to speak.  His presence was greatly appreciated and proved immensely popular."

"In recent years ITMA has sent delegations to Japan, China and the USA to make presentations outlining the advantages of using UK professionals.  Building on those visits we directed our invitations to the professional bodies of those countries and were delighted that so many attended.  We were also pleased to see so many colleagues from around the globe including, Korea, Australia, India, South Africa and New Zealand.  I am confident we will see many of them at future conferences including out Autumn Conference scheduled for 25th and 26th September in Alicante."

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) was established in 1934 as the professional body representing those persons qualified to act for the owners of trade mark and allied intellectual property rights (in particular, registered designs) both nationally and internationally. It now represents the vast majority of UK registered trade mark agents and all UK Trade Mark & Design Litigators.

2. Currently ITMA has approximately 500 practising members; it also extends associate membership to professionals in related fields of law and overseas membership to foreign trade mark attorneys. Its total membership (all classes) is about 1600 members, primarily located in the United Kingdom and Europe, but also in more than 50 other countries.

3. ITMA is regularly consulted by UK government and by international bodies when questions affecting trade mark and allied intellectual property rights arise. It has regular meetings with the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO), the Community Trade Marks Office (OHIM), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and other sister organisations in Europe and beyond. For more information visit www.itma.org.uk.

4. UK-IPO is the UK Intellectual Property Office, the official government body responsible for granting Intellectual Property (IP-trade marks, patents, designs and copyright) in the UK.  OHIM is the Office for the Harmonisation of the Internal Market whose task is to register Community Trade Marks and Community Designs and WIPO is the World Intellectual Property Office, responsible for the promotion of IP throughout the world.

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