NIPC have been running IP clinics in Bradford for exactly two years and we have had very good feedback form all concerned. Now we are running more of them and making them easier to book.

For those who have not yet attended one, an IP clinic is a free 30-minute consultation with a specialist barrister, patent or trade mark attorney or other intellectual property professional. Here are some of the quesitons that are often asked:

"I have an idea for a new business. I know I cannot get a patent for it because it is essentially a method of doing business but can you suggest any way of protecting my idea?

"I would like to know whether my product is likely to infringe this patent. My patent attorney says it is OK but I should like your view too."

"Can you suggest terms and conditions for my new e-commerce site?"

“This seems to be an infringing copy of my work. What do you think?"

The clinic can be a gateway to a lot of resources. It is often attended by professionals other than lawyers such as patent and trade mark attorneys, patent librarians and business advisors. Also, each of the professionals attending the clinic has his or her own network of connections. If a client needs a prototype or a design consultant, an introduction to a business angel or venture capitalist or some information on the local inventors' club, the advisor can usually suggest a contact.

In Bradford, we offer this service from Gumption, Glydegate, Branford, BD5 OBQ (see http://www.nipc.eu/cinics/bradford.htm) every third Thursday of every nmonth except August and December between 15:00 and 17:00. To make a booking, call Angie or Anita on 0845 034 4133 or fill out the online form which you can download at http://www.nipc.eu/cinics/bradfordbooking.htm.

Although we can see no more than 4 people a month at Bradford, we also hold clinics at Barnsley on the second Tuesday of every month between 10:00 and 12:00, Halifax on the first Wednesday between 10:00 and 12:00 and Huddersfield on the last Friday between 09:30 and 11:30. Click on http://www.nipc.eu/cinics/locations.htm for contact details for the other centres.