Intellectual Property Office Information

1. The IPO is an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and is responsible for the national framework of Intellectual Property rights, comprising patents, designs, trade marks and copyright. 2. The IPO's role is to help manage an IP system that encourages innovation and creativity, balances the needs of consumers and users, promotes strong and competitive markets and is the foundation of the knowledge-based economy. 3. The IPO operates in a national and an international environment and its work is governed by national and international law, including various international treaties relating to IP to which the United Kingdom is a party. 4. Christabel Koh has been appointed as the IPO's fourth IP attaché. Tom Duke, appointed in December 2011 is based in China, Anshika Jha appointed in May 2012 is based in India and Sheila Alves, appointed in August 2012 is based in Brazil. 5. Christabel Koh joins the IPO from the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) and the IP Academy Singapore, where she spent over five years, most recently serving as an Assistant Director of Special Projects. In these roles she focused on international cooperation, IP capacity building, and monitored IP developments in Singapore and the region. Her prior work experience included co-founding an online golfing portal to bridge the gap between customers and suppliers of information and merchandise. Her roles covered product development, marketing, how to enhance customers' online experience, and managing their IP. She has a Master of Science in Technopreneurship and Innovation. 6. ASEAN is an intergovernmental association. It was formed in 1967 by Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The association has since expanded to include Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam. 7. For media queries, please contact Jayne Scott on 0207 215 5080. For emergency media calls out-of-hours please contact the duty press officer at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on +44 (0) 207 215 3505.