The government is considering legislation to allow the use of digital certified official copies as part of its plan to streamline the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), according to a government response to a consultation seeking views on new digital services. 

From next spring, IPO customers will be able to access digital services 24/7, the response states. A new ‘One IPO’ service will provide digital customer accounts which will allow rights owners and their representatives to view and manage IP online for the first time. 

According to the response, represented applicants will be able to make simple administrative changes such as changing their name, address or representative automatically via their account. Any changes made by the applicant or by their representative will have a full audit trail, detailing what changes were made, when and by whom. Customers will be able to set up notifications to alert them to changes that are made at key stages of an application or transaction. 

'Where appropriate', the response states, the government will seek to remove legal barriers to digital certified official copies (COCs). However paper COCs will be available 'for the foreseeable future'. The IPO will continue international work to promote the acceptance and standardisation of digital COCs.

The government will also consider the suggestions for improvements to the IPO’s tribunal and whether legislative change is appropriate to enable them.  

Daniel Chew, president of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys welcomed the respose. 'These changes will provide a more modern IP system of the sort that both the public and IP professionals now expect. We know that the IPO has further improvements planned and we look forward to future consultations.'