Welcome to
IP Pro Bono
Providing advice and legal support in intellectual
property cases for those who cannot afford to pay
Welcome to
Providing advice and legal support in intellectual
property cases for those who cannot afford to pay
LawWorks
IP Pro Bono is in the process of transferring its operation to LawWorks, a charity committed to enabling access to justice through free legal advice.
As we transfer the service, you will be able to continue to ask for pro bono advice and support on intellectual property (IP) law matters relating to disputes being dealt with by the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) or the courts. Please see the How To Apply section of this website for further information on applying.
As we transfer the service, you will be able to continue to ask for pro bono advice and support on intellectual property (IP) law matters relating to disputes being dealt with by the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) or the courts. Please see the How To Apply section of this website for further information on applying.
Who we are
The intellectual property pro bono initiative - IP Pro Bono - provides intellectual property advice and legal support for claimants and defendants in intellectual property disputes.
The service is offered through LawWorks, a charity which aims to connect volunteer lawyers with people in need of legal advice, and is funded by contributions from the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA).
IP Pro Bono aims to respond to the challenge set out by His Honour Judge Richard Hacon, that IP legal services providers should come together to provide intellectual property advice and legal support for individuals and small businesses who find themselves involved in intellectual property disputes, who could not otherwise afford to meet the costs of professional representation.
The intellectual property professionals providing the service are all qualified and regulated under the Legal Services Act 2007.
The service is offered through LawWorks, a charity which aims to connect volunteer lawyers with people in need of legal advice, and is funded by contributions from the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA).
IP Pro Bono aims to respond to the challenge set out by His Honour Judge Richard Hacon, that IP legal services providers should come together to provide intellectual property advice and legal support for individuals and small businesses who find themselves involved in intellectual property disputes, who could not otherwise afford to meet the costs of professional representation.
The intellectual property professionals providing the service are all qualified and regulated under the Legal Services Act 2007.
Who we can help
This service has been designed to help small businesses and individuals who are involved in a dispute about an intellectual property right such as a patent, trade mark, protected design or copyright. We can help before the dispute becomes a court case. We can assist with settlement and mediation. If official proceedings have started in any of the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), oppositions before UK Trade Mark Registry or Appointed Person or proceedings in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) or IP matters in the High Court, then we may be able to help.
The service is available to those who cannot reasonably afford to pay for professional for advice. However, if you are not totally without financial resources but are unable to find affordable services, you may also want to access the service to be signposted to more affordable resources suitable to your needs or perhaps to gain advice on alternative strategies.
We can help those who want to make a complaint (claimant) as well as those who have received a complaint against them (defendant). Intellectual property issues can be complex and people can infringe others’ IP rights without intending to do so. So even if you chose the wrong brand or inadvertently infringe a patent, this service could still help you. When you are in that situation, it is important to get good advice as soon as you can.
Some situations may not be clear: and some may require nuanced solutions. This means that the courts are not always the best place to resolve a dispute. Reaching a friendly settlement is nearly always better, for both sides. Therefore, the service may refer you to what is called mediation. This is a process where an independent mediator will help the parties reach a compromise that can be reflected in an agreement. This mediator may be provided by the IPO mediation service.
The service is available to those who cannot reasonably afford to pay for professional for advice. However, if you are not totally without financial resources but are unable to find affordable services, you may also want to access the service to be signposted to more affordable resources suitable to your needs or perhaps to gain advice on alternative strategies.
We can help those who want to make a complaint (claimant) as well as those who have received a complaint against them (defendant). Intellectual property issues can be complex and people can infringe others’ IP rights without intending to do so. So even if you chose the wrong brand or inadvertently infringe a patent, this service could still help you. When you are in that situation, it is important to get good advice as soon as you can.
Some situations may not be clear: and some may require nuanced solutions. This means that the courts are not always the best place to resolve a dispute. Reaching a friendly settlement is nearly always better, for both sides. Therefore, the service may refer you to what is called mediation. This is a process where an independent mediator will help the parties reach a compromise that can be reflected in an agreement. This mediator may be provided by the IPO mediation service.
What we cannot do
IP Pro Bono cannot provide advice on general IP matters such as how to apply for a patent or a trade mark or how to register a design. General information on obtaining IP rights, including free IP advice clinics, can be found on the websites of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA), the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) and the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg).
The service cannot pay any court fees or other expenses on your behalf. For example, if you need an expert, they may charge fees. The service does not provide experts. In litigation, the court or tribunal will usually order the losing party to pay at least some of the winning party’s legal costs and expenses. If such an order is made against you, the service cannot help you with your obligation to pay those costs.
The service cannot pay any court fees or other expenses on your behalf. For example, if you need an expert, they may charge fees. The service does not provide experts. In litigation, the court or tribunal will usually order the losing party to pay at least some of the winning party’s legal costs and expenses. If such an order is made against you, the service cannot help you with your obligation to pay those costs.
