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• 14,000 UK businesses already helped by Government鈥檚 intellectual property attach茅s to deal with IP issues worth nearly 拢1/2 billion
• in 2015 alone, IP attach茅s advised upon issues worth 拢47 million
• 鈥淯K鈥檚 efforts to build respect for IP rights in emerging economies is paramount鈥� says UK IP Minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe

Wednesday 2 March (London):

Overseas attach茅s from the UK鈥檚 Intellectual Property Office (IPO) have helped to protect 拢440 million worth of British intellectual property across the globe.

New figures released today point to the outstanding work of the IPO鈥檚 attach茅s 鈥� based in China, Brazil, South East Asia, and India 鈥� who have now advised more than 14,000 UK businesses operating overseas. The attach茅s are also helping to promote respect for intellectual property in both emerging and established economies, encouraging cooperation and mutual respect for IP rights.

In the past year alone, the attach茅s, who help businesses navigate and understand local IP regimes abroad, have advised on IP rights worth in excess of 拢47 million and have held one-on-one meetings with more than 200 businesses.

Minister for IP, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, revealed these latest statistics to a British business audience at the CBI, a key partner of the IPO in promoting British business interests.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister for intellectual property, said:

Our IP attach茅s represent great value for money. They support British businesses operating overseas and have a major impact on the improvement of the global IP system.

The UK is setting an example to the rest of the world and helping to build universal respect for IP rights. The attach茅s are having a significant influence on British trade, and protecting IP rights worth millions of pounds to the UK economy.

Tom Thackray, CBI Acting Competitive Markets Director, said:

Building understanding and awareness of foreign intellectual property systems is crucial to inspiring business confidence in international markets.

The IP attach茅s play a key role in providing on the ground support to companies looking to grow through exporting. The CBI and our members are committed to working with the Government to ensure that respect for IP rights in emerging economies continues to build.

Notes to editors

1. The UK strengths in IP intensive sectors gives it a strong interest in ensuring effective IP protection in key overseas markets. One of the biggest challenges facing British businesses who want to operate in the region is protection of their intellectual property rights. During the Prime Minister鈥檚 visit to Singapore in July 2015 this was one of the key points he emphasised in his speech full speech is available.
2. The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has attach茅s based in China, India, Brazil and South East Asia, some of the world鈥檚 most challenging and fast growing markets. They work with local UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) leads to provide support for UK businesses seeking advice on local IP matters in country.
3. Attach茅s have been helping British brands overseas tackle e-commerce related IP challenges in China, working with the internet giant Alibaba, action has already been taken to successfully remove counterfeit versions of UK products worth over 拢8 million.
4. In Brazil, the UK IP attach茅 has been working closely with the government to secure Geographical Indication status for Scotch whisky, a key UK export.
5. For information on how to contact the IP attach茅s please visit UK overseas intellectual property attach茅 network.
6. The EU-funded IP Rights Helpdesks provide 鈥渇irst-line鈥� advice on the management, protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in three of the world鈥檚 leading growth markets for UK businesses. They complement the UK鈥檚 IP attach茅 network to provide and all round service for UK businesses.