If 2025 had a global theme, some might say that it was the struggle to keep multilateralism alive. While the world may seem increasingly politically disinclined in this direction, it is not in the interest of business. Multilateral agreements help harmonise rules across jurisdictions, enabling business to be conducted more easily and with greater confidence. This is particularly so in the field of intellectual property rights.
The IP Federation, undeterred, doubled down on its support for the multilateral IP order, even as Brexit realities forced a pivot toward new bilateral trade agreements. On the bilateral side, the IP Federation has worked closely with the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) to support the UK’s Free Trade Agreement negotiations, to ensure that the IP chapters are sufficiently robust. Internationally, the IP Federation’s advocacy extended from WTO and WIPO meetings in Geneva to hands-on support for the UK’s free trade agreement with India and engagement with officials from emerging markets like Uzbekistan, who were interested to hear from industry how IP works in practice.
Nevertheless, the spectre continues to loom of a weakening of IP and innovation, either through agreements relating to the environment or through weakening of the TRIPS agreement, especially with the upcoming WTO’s Ministerial Conference (MC14) on the horizon. With this concern in mind, the IP Federation, alongside the ICC UK and CIPA, worked effectively to present a positive perspective of IP, using real-world case studies to convince diplomats and policymakers on the role of multilateral organisations in supporting innovation, intellectual property and global trade. You can find a copy of our joint case studies here:
We also hosted the UK IPO’s international IP attachés in London and further expressed the need for UK government support for IP internationally in our response to the new government’s then forthcoming trade strategy.
And closer to home, the IP Federation explored what opportunities may exist for a warmer relationship with the EU through our continued participation in the UK Domestic Advisory Group and we were pleased to see December’s announcement that the UK will rejoin the Erasmus+ programme from 2027. We also sat down with EPO President, António Campinos and Vice-President, Steve Rowan, for a candid exchange on the EPO’s latest reforms. Representing some of the largest patent filers, IP Federation members offered incisive insights and feedback.
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President’s Introduction
I feel honoured to be writing the introduction to the 2025 IP Federation Review as the current President of the IP Federation. The IP Federation...
Sarah Vaughan, President, IP Federation
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