Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property

The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (French: Institut Fédéral de la Propriété Intellectuelle, German: Eidgenössisches Institut für Geistiges Eigentum or IGE, Italian: Istituto Federale della Proprietà Intellettuale) is the federal agency in charge of intellectual property matters in Switzerland. Its seat is in Bern. The agency is in charge of patents, trademarks, industrial designs and copyright.

The Institute was established November 15, 1888. Its official names have been: from 1888 to 1979, the "Federal Office for Intellectual Property", from 1979 to 1996, the "Federal Intellectual Property Agency", and since January 1, 1996, the "Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property" (statutory federal institute with independent legal status).

Albert Einstein worked from 1902 to 1907 at the Institute, known at that time as the Federal Office for Intellectual Property; it was often casually referred to as "the patent office" at the time.

Dr. Roland Grossenbacher is the current Director of the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property.

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