The Institute of Trade Marks has been given the Royal seal of approval—and will now be known as the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA).
Its royal charter was given to them by The Queen in a meeting of The Privy Council, and was unveiled publically by CITMA today. Fully qualified CITMA members can now use the official title, Chartered Trade Mark Attorney.
Kate O’Rourke, CITMA President, said: “To be awarded a Royal Charter is due recognition of the great work of our members as intellectual property professionals and of CITMA as an organisation.
“This new status provides a seal of quality for the work of our members and the value their work provides to businesses in the UK and across the globe.”
It is a historic landmark for the intellectual property professionals’ body, which launched in 1934 and now represents 1,500 professionals. Its members are also enjoying a boom in business—demand for trade marks has increased 35% since 2012, according to the Intellectual Property Office.
