ITMA celebrates 75 years

David Lammy, the Minister with responsibility for IP (Intellectual Property) is today, 24th  November, helping ITMA, the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, celebrate its 75th Anniversary with a special reception for its members, both past and present. The reception is co hosted by InBev the owners of the UK’s first registered trade mark for Bass & Co’s PALE ALE incorporating the famous red triangle; the Number 1 trade mark registered in the UK and registered well before ITMA came into existence on 24 November 1934

Marking the occasion with a reception at the Royal College of Surgeons in London, Gillian Deas, President of ITMA, said: “This is a momentous landmark in our history. When a small group of trade mark agents met back in the gloomy days of pre-war 1934 and set up ITMA, little could they have imagined that, 75 years on, we would be celebrating a thriving profession, holding its own through the current economic downturn. It is particularly pleasing that the Minister for IP, David Lammy, has come along to support us - it demonstrates the high regard in which the Institute is held.”

“We have seen many changes over the last 75 years. We have documented these in a special supplement to mark our anniversary in one of the major publications covering our industry, Trademark World. We are grateful to them for their support and hope people will take the opportunity to read about the steps we have taken to ensure the profession is well served and the public gain strong protection for their trade marks not only here in the UK but also in the changing European and World market.”

“I am also delighted that InBev, who now own the aforementioned Bass & Co’s PALE ALE label, are sponsoring our celebration with the generous donation of bottles of beer featuring the distinctive red triangle that every trade mark attorney knows is the very first UK registration.”

 “InBev UK are pleased to be a part of the 75th Anniversary celebration of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys. We’re also proud to celebrate our heritage, recognizing the distinctive Bass & Co PALE ALE triangle as the first ever trade mark registration” said Stuart MacFarlane, President of InBev UK.

Gillian Deas concluded: “As we now move into the final quarter of our first century, there are many new challenges facing us; not least of which is the introduction of regulation into legal services. We have a new independent IP Regulation Board (IPReg), set up jointly by ourselves and CIPA (the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys) which I believe can only enhance the professionalism of our members. I believe the public will recognize that registered trade mark attorneys are there to help them in their business and am confident that our members will embrace the new regime as we have always embraced change throughout our history.”

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 Intellectual Property Office (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.

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