IP Clinic Service

The Intellectual Property Office of Ireland offers an IP (Intellectual Property) clinic service. The IP Clinics give an opportunity to members of the public, inventors, entrepreneurs and business people to discuss with Intellectual Property Office of Ireland staff their ideas and matters concerning IP (Patent, Trade Mark or Design) applications they intend to make to the Office.

No matter what type of idea you have, or what type of business you are in, or thinking of starting, the free advice on offer can help you to gain a more thorough understanding of patents, designs, trade marks and copyright and the differences between these IP rights and how best to protect the innovations you are creating.

A one to one meeting can be particularly helpful in providing advice on:

Basic guidance on procedure and forms required for the registration of IP rights.

The process of obtaining IP Protection in Ireland and abroad and the timeframes involved.

Assistance in constructing a do-it-yourself search strategy for patents, trade marks or registered designs and accessing and using online patent, trade mark and design databases:

Please Note:

In order to avail of the Patent clinic service, it will be necessary to submit by email (ipinfo@ipoi.gov.ie) a draft copy of your patent specification to be reviewed by a Patent Examiner in advance of your meeting. Upon receipt of the draft, an appointment date will be issued to you in due course.

The office cannot provide any financial assistance towards the cost of prosecuting or registering IP rights or provide advice on commercialisation or on the tax reliefs which may be available to IP rightsholders. The Office will advise as to the appropriate agency which should be able to assist with these matters.

The Office cannot provide information about the fees charged by IP professionals such as patent and trade mark agents.

The Office cannot complete a patent, trade mark or design application for you. However, we will provide guidance to assist you in completing the forms yourself.

The Office is charged with assessing and adjudicating on applications after they are submitted formally and the appropriate fees are paid. Accordingly, the Office cannot provide any indication regarding the likelihood of success or failure of any application.

If you consider that you would benefit from professional assistance in making an application for the registration of a patent, trade mark or design, the Office can provide a list of registered patent and trade mark agents but we cannot recommend any particular agent or firm.

Our information centre can be contacted at (056) 7720111 or by email at ipinfo@ipoi.gov.ie. They can provide you with further information regarding the IP clinic process.