The move has the support of the government. Last week Baroness Neville Rolfe, the UK’s IP minister, (pictured) gave a keynote speech at a roundtable hosted by CIPA to kickstart the work of the task force. Managing IP also attended the roundtable.
The task force is a joint initiative of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA), the IP Federation and the UK Association of the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI-UK).
In a statement, the groups said they are committed to making the IP professions more inclusive.
“We believe that there is value, not only to the professions and their individual members, but also to the IP system as a whole and its users, in ensuring that the IP professionals of the future encourage, embrace and sustain a more diverse workforce.”
“We will work together to ensure that for all those who have the necessary aptitude, regardless of their age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, physical ability, wealth or background, the IP professions are welcoming, accessible, respectful and supportive.”