What is the name of the government body that grants patents in the United Kingdom?

The government body that grants patents in the United Kingdom is the Intellectual Property Office, or IPO.

The IPO administers the UK’s intellectual-property system and handles patents alongside trade marks, registered designs, and copyright policy. For patents, it examines applications, determines whether legal requirements are met, and grants rights that can protect qualifying inventions in the United Kingdom.

The organization’s history explains a common naming mix-up. It was established as the Patent Office in 1852, but became the operating name of the Intellectual Property Office on April 2, 2007. “UK Patent Office” may therefore appear in older material, but it is not the current official name.

The IPO is not the same as a trademark registry or copyright office. Those rights fall within its broader responsibilities, but the single government body oversees several forms of intellectual property. A UK patent is territorial, so separate protection may be needed in other countries or through regional systems.