We’re celebrating 30 years of working autonomously, focusing on our customers and fostering innovation.

 

On 1 January 1996, the Federal Office of Intellectual Property became the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI).

 

The traditional federal office under the aegis of the Federal Department of Justice and Police was transformed into a public law institution that is economically independent and self-financing. As a result of this transformation in 1996, the IPI acquired its own legal personality as well as greater organisational and operational autonomy.

 

Thanks to this change, the IPI is able to operate flexibly and stay close to the market, even in a dynamic international environment. To this day, it remains the central Swiss authority for granting and administering industrial property rights, such as patents, trade marks and designs.