Definition

A national IP office is a governmental body responsible for examining, granting and registering intellectual property titles within its country: trademarks, patents, designs. Examples: INPI in France, USPTO in the United States, UKIPO in the United Kingdom, DPMA in Germany, JPO in Japan.

Core responsibilities

• Examine and register IP applications
• Maintain national IP registers and publish official journals
• Provide public search databases for trademarks, patents and designs
• Handle opposition, cancellation and renewal proceedings
• Coordinate with regional offices (EUIPO) and international bodies (WIPO)
• Support enforcement against counterfeiting in coordination with customs

Why work with national offices

Each national office applies its own examination criteria, languages and fee schedules. For protection in several countries, businesses combine national filings with regional routes (EUIPO for the EU) and the Madrid system through WIPO. Centralising every national title in IP software is essential to track deadlines, oppositions and renewals across jurisdictions.