Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the UK will continue to participate in the EU Intellectual Property Office following Brexit; and if so, what will be the mechanism by which this will be achieved.

The UK's future relationship with the European Union Intellectual Property Office is a matter for negotiations with the EU. It would be inappropriate to set out unilateral positions in advance.

Officials in the Intellectual Property Office, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Exiting the European Union are considering the options available to us with the aim of achieving the best outcome for UK right holders and the UK as a whole.

Meanwhile, UK businesses will continue to be able to apply to the European Union Intellectual Property Office for EU Trade Marks and Registered Community Designs covering the member states of the EU.