INTA Publishes Checklist for IPOs Implementing IPO of the Future Report Recommendations

Miami, Florida—November 17, 2022—The International Trademark Association (INTA) has published a Checklist to accompany The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Future Report, published in November 2020. As detailed in the Report, IPOs have been affected by the acceleration of global, technological, economic, and societal change, challenging their ability to effectively serve their users, evolve with the times, and play a role in shaping national and global IP policy. The Checklist is intended to accelerate an IPO’s ability to implement the Report’s recommendations.

The original Report provides a comprehensive resource for all IPOs, despite their unique circumstances or location, to future-proof their operations and structures, and to proactively engage with their planning and positioning requirements.

In an effort to make the Report easily implementable, the Checklist seeks to help IPOs clarify their strategic priorities and assess whether they have a sound foundation to achieve their goals. Utilizing a balanced scorecard assessment, the Checklist gives IPOs the opportunity to determine future opportunities with various stakeholders in view of the external environment and regulatory requirements they are likely to face.

“The last few years have shown us that effective planning coupled with agility and flexibility is necessary to ensure future success,” said INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo. “It is crucial that IP offices keep evolving, and I am sure that this Checklist will help IP offices to more effectively utilize the Report and project themselves into the future.”

The Report addresses the main challenges IPOs face based on two main perspectives: (1) their traditional roles or core mandates; and (2) their wider role in supporting and incentivizing innovation.

Konstantinos Georgaras, CEO, Canadian IPO, emphasized that, “For IP offices to evolve with global changes, they must be secure in their foundations. We want to support and promote this and go forward confidently so that IP offices can be key players in advancing innovation. I would like to thank INTA for facilitating this Think Tank and for their exemplary leadership throughout this important initiative.”

The Checklist breaks down all the competencies and activities discussed in the Report into Foundational items, Core items, and Beyond Core items. It can help IPOs assess which of the suggested activities should be pursued first, based on their priorities. And, it recognizes that some competencies depend on the achievement of certain basic priorities, in turn requiring sensitivity to sequencing and focus at key stages of Office development.

David Kappos, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director (2009–2013), further noted, “The Checklist provides depth and nuance to let IP offices assess how they are doing vis-à-vis best practices and their own historical practices. These honest assessments are crucial when determining developmental steps for IP offices.”

Download the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Future Report and Checklist.

The Think Tank that developed the Checklist comprises a team of experts representing different regions, office sizes, and development levels of the countries these offices serve, including current and former heads of IP offices: Loreto Bresky, National Director, Chilean Industrial Property Institute (INAPI), Catherine Chammartin, Director General, Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI), Konstantinos Georgaras, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, David Kappos, Director, United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), (2009–2013), Rena Lee, Chief Executive, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), Tim Moss, Chief Executive and Comptroller General, United Kingdom, Intellectual Property Office (2017–2022) (IPO UK), and Sune Stampe Sørensen, Director General, CEO, Danish Patent and Trademark Office.

INTA also extends its gratitude to Sergio Escudero, Head International Affairs and Policy Department, Chilean Industrial Property Institute (INAPI), and Denisse Perez, Legal Adviser, International Affairs and Policy Department Chilean Industrial Property Institute (INAPI), and to the staff of the IPOs represented in the expert group for their support in producing the Checklist.

About the International Trademark Association
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation. Members include nearly 6,500 organizations, representing more than 34,350 individuals (trademark owners, professionals, and academics) from 185 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Beijing, Brussels, Santiago, Singapore, and the Washington, D.C., Metro Area, and a representative in New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.

Press contact:
Elizabeth Bogner
Senior Strategist, Communications
212-642-1770
[email protected]