April 13, 2016
ITMA Granted Royal Charter
ITMA Granted Royal Charter

In an exciting development for our profession, we are delighted to report that the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) was yesterday granted a Royal Charter by Her Majesty the Queen.

Originally founded in 1934, ITMA is the professional membership organisation that represents and regulates the trade mark attorney profession in the UK. Moving forwards, ITMA will become known as the Chartered Institute of Trade Marks Attorneys (CITMA) and its members, who are qualified Registered Trade Mark Attorneys, will become Chartered Trade Mark Attorneys (CTMAs).

The change will come into effect later in 2016 (expected around Autumn time) once the Royal Charter has been legally granted.

Royal Charters are only granted to “eminent professional bodies which have a solid record of achievement”, so we are proud that this change in status grants ITMA official recognition for the high standards of training, qualification, and continued learning that its members are required to achieve and adhere to. We consider this to be an important development, and a further sign that the traditional divide between the different areas of the legal profession are blurring – much like the granting of trade mark attorney firms to also hold Alternative Business Structure Licences last year. Overall, this is welcomed news that raises the profile of the profession and in doing so levels the legal services playing field, providing brand owners with the benefits of increased competition in the process.


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