Appointed Person of the Intellectual Property Office (Appeal Tribunal, Trade Marks or Trade Marks and Designs)

We have been asked to identify six candidates for recommendation for appointment as Appointed Persons of the Intellectual Property Office in either of the following roles: 

• Fee-paid Appointed Person, Appeal Tribunal, Trade Marks 
• Fee-paid Appointed Person, Appeal Tribunal, Trade Marks and Designs 

You may apply for either role or for both roles as part of the same application. 

Hearings are conducted almost exclusively remotely. Where hearings take place in person, they will usually be held in London. Appointed Persons may be required to sit anywhere in the United Kingdom. 

Number of immediate vacancies: 6

Number of future vacancies: 0

Location: Hearings are conducted almost exclusively remotely. Where hearings take place in person, they will usually be held in London. Appointed Persons may be required to sit anywhere in the United Kingdom. This exercise involves two jurisdictions and candidates are welcome to apply for either or both roles. In your online application form you will be asked to indicate the role(s) you are applying for.

Salary/Fee: £827.88

Contact: [email protected]

Overview of the role 

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the United Kingdom (UK) government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights, including trade marks, patents, designs and copyright. 

The tribunal shares jurisdiction over appeals with the High Court in England and Wales, the Court of Session in Scotland, and the High Court in Northern Ireland. In practice, around 90 percent of appeals are made to the Appointed Person. The tribunal is highly regarded for delivering specialist, high-quality decisions at significantly lower cost than court proceedings. 

While some cases can be decided on the papers, Appointed Persons normally determine appeals following an oral hearing. Parties may be represented by solicitors, trade mark attorneys, barristers or other representatives, or they may appear in person. 

Trade Marks 

Appointed Persons hear ex parte and inter partes appeals from decisions of the Registrar of Trade Marks' hearing officers under section 76 of the Trade Marks Act 1994. 

Registered and Unregistered Designs 

Appointed Persons hear ex parte and inter partes appeals from decisions of IPO officers acting on behalf of the Comptroller of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks under the Registered Designs Act 1949 and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Any candidates in the Designs post must be able to hear appeals in registered design cancellation cases. 

Candidates should consider whether their appointment can accommodate and fulfil the requirements for avoidance of conflicts of interest as noted in the job description before making an application:  

With reference to the requirements for avoidance of conflicts of interest, as noted in the Terms and Conditions of Service and Terms of Appointment, the Appointed Persons are expected to observe the practice of the tribunal, that in cases where a party proposes to be represented by one Appointed Person on appeal before another Appointed Person, that this is  a matter which must be raised with the opposite party in advance of the hearing in order that they can provide informed consent (or not) for the Appointed Person to represent the other party at the hearing of the appeal : Newsco Insider Ltd’s Trade Mark Application [2018] RPC 10; BL O/004/18. 

Eligibility 

You must meet the eligibility requirements to be considered for appointment. Please note that eligibility decisions for this exercise will be considered after shortlisting. 

Training 

Training will be provided as required. The successful candidates will have access to the Judicial College training prospectus on appointment. Further, successful candidates will sit with a senior colleague on three appeals and then sit on their own.  

Contact 

If you have any questions regarding this role or your application, please contact a member of the selection exercise team: 

[email protected] 

Rob Lynch: Senior Selection Exercise Manager, 07583 674817  

Nicole Curtis: Selection Exercise Manager, 07720 150689  

Zahid Shanvere: Selection Exercise Officer, 07860 942159 

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