The five IP offices (IP5) is the name given to a forum of the five largest intellectual property offices in the world that was set up to improve the efficiency of the examination process for patents worldwide.
The members of IP5 are:
- the European Patent Office (EPO)
- the Japan Patent Office (JPO)
- the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)
- the National Intellectual Property Administration of the People's Republic of China (CNIPA)
- and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
The IP5 Offices together handle about 90 per cent of the world's patent applications, and 95 per cent of all work carried out under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
The IP5 Offices work together closely to improve efficiency and address the growing backlogs in applications worldwide. The heads of the IP5 Offices meet annually to decide on strategy and review progress.
IP5 vision
In 2023 the IP5 Offices revised the IP5 Vision Statement. The new version embeds sustainability in the IP5 agendas and reflects the Offices' efforts to develop an inclusive innovation ecosystem.
The Five Offices defined their new vision of IP5 co-operation as:
Building a sustainable future by fostering innovation and economic growth through an inclusive and accessible patent system. Promoting patent protection through harmonization of practices and procedures, high-quality and timely search and examination results, worksharing and access to patent information and achieving an efficient, cost-effective and user-friendly international patent landscape.
Better services for users
The work of the IP5 has direct benefits for companies and inventors worldwide. Co-operation is helping the IP5 Offices to improve their services and to make access to the patent system straightforward and legally certain for innovators from all their regions.
Co-operation with users, other offices and WIPO
The IP5 Offices recognise the importance of open communication with users of the system, including other patent offices. The offices therefore endeavour to bring on board the views of industry, and other offices that share the need for action. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has also been involved as an observer in all levels of IP5 meetings.
Involvement of examiners
The IP5 attach great importance to the full involvement and commitment of the patent examiners of the five offices in the implementation of IP5 projects.