Equality and Diversity
Encouraging use of the IP system
Outreach activities
Education
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has for some time been working in partnership with Aardman Animations. Our use of the Wallace & Gromit brand, under licence, has enabled us to reach aspiring young innovators and entrepreneurs. The Cracking Ideas "sprocket rocket" on-line IP game has exceeded 4.5 million game plays; the touring exhibition has attracted over half a million visitors; and the 2010-11 Cracking Ideas Competition attracted over six thousand entries.
Business
IPO outreach activities include working with ethnic business clubs, universities, Business Links, Chambers of Commerce and female innovators to increase awareness of the wealth creating potential of intellectual property rights. A number of these organisations have specialist advisers helping to ensure that awareness raising activity appropriately targets a diverse range of local stakeholders.
In 2011 about 12,000 firms attended IPO seminars, the IPO E-newsletter had 6,500 subscribers and over 8,500 businesses used the IP Healthcheck online tool which explains how to protect and exploit intellectual assets including advice on licensing and managing confidential information.