Intellectual property (IP) refers to the creations of the mind, such as inventions (patents); literary and artistic works (copyright); new product designs (industrial designs); and brand-names, symbols, or logos used to distinguish products and services from one undertaking from another (trade marks).
IP is a powerful tool for individuals and enterprises to help control their property rights. Ireland has in place a strong legal framework and intellectual property system that offers IP right holders the opportunity to be rewarded for their creativity and innovation and enabling society at large and the economy to benefit from their achievements.
Formal IP rights include patents, trade marks and industrial designs so called because they can be registered. Copyright is a different type of intellectual property relating to creations of the mind and is seen in everyday life in creative works such as books, films, music, art and software, as well as in more mundane objects such as cars, computers and medicines. Other types of informal IP rights include plant variety rights, geographical indications of origin, trade secrets and topographies of integrated circuits. For further information please see other IP rights.
The Intellectual Property Unit of the department is responsible for Ireland’s policy and legislation on IP that reflects developments in intellectual property policy and practice domestically, at EU level and in terms of international obligations to which Ireland is committed through various international agreements.
The Intellectual Property Office of Ireland is responsible for the granting of patents, the registration of industrial designs and trade marks, and has certain functions in relation to copyright and related rights.
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European Commission seeks feedback on draft Commission Delegated Regulation on EU designs with rules specifying the details of certain proceedings concerning registered EU designs
November 2025
Background
The recent reform of the EU design system aims to streamline procedures to apply and register an EU design at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). It also aims to increase legal certainty by clarifying provisions and removing ambiguities.
The European Commission is in the process of drafting a Commission Delegated Regulation laying down the rules specifying the details of certain proceedings concerning registered EU designs that have been amended by EU Regulation 2024/2822.
The Commission Delegated Regulation will facilitate the smooth and efficient handling of EU design applications and the administration of other rules relating to EU design rights.
Feedback
The feedback provided will be taken into account for finalising this initiative. This draft regulation is open for feedback until 26 November 2025.
Further information and the feedback form can be found on the European Commission's Better Regulation Portal at EU designs – design-related intellectual property procedures.
‘What's on your table?’ campaign to tackle counterfeit food and beverages
June 2025
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has launched its Spring campaign which relates to counterfeit food and beverages in the European Union. Counterfeit products are often only associated with luxury goods or clothing and the fashion sector. However, according to the 2022 Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment, foodstuffs particularly cookies, pasta, crisps and sweets were the second most seized category of products at the EU’s external borders in 2020.
The #WhatsOnYourTableEU comes as reports indicate counterfeiting in the food and drink sector continues to pose significant risks to the health of consumers, while harming Europe's economies as well as its culinary heritage.
Information on #WhatsOnYourTableEU campaign can be found on What's on your table campaign - EUIPO.
Call for expression of interest for a list of vendors to provide independent and on-hand expertise on specialised services in the field of IP rights
April 2025
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has issued a call for expression of interest to compile a list of vendors to provide independent and on-hand expertise on specialised services in the field of intellectual property (IP) rights.
If you are interested in taking part in this call, visit the EU Funding and Tenders portal at Call for expression of interest for a list of vendors.
2025 SME Fund to help protect intellectual property
February 2025
The European Commission and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) have launched the 2025 SME Fund to provide small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) with financial support to better manage and protect their intangible assets.
The SME Fund is a grant scheme designed to help SMEs protect their intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, industrial designs and new plant varieties. The fund can also finance a broad assessment of the intellectual property needs of the SMEs, taking into account the innovative potential of their intangible assets (IP Scan). This initiative will run from 3 February 2025 to 5 December 2025.
For more information on the fund and how to apply, visit 2025 SME Fund to help SMEs protect intellectual property - European Commission.