The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) was established in January 2001. JIPO acquired its status as a statutory body on February 1, 2002 and is an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.

As the national IP office, JIPO provides a central focal point for the administration of Intellectual Property (IP) in Jamaica and has the mandate of administering the following intellectual property systems in Jamaica –

• Copyright and Related Rights
• Trade Marks
• Geographical Indications
• Industrial Designs
• Patents
• Layout-Designs (Topographies)
• New Plant Varieties.
• Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Expressions

The services offered by and activities carried out by JIPO are geared towards enhancing the capacity of individual creators and innovators, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME’s), corporations and institutions, to create wealth through the acquisition and maintenance of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR’s).

JIPO is headed by an Advisory Board appointed by the overseeing Minister. The day-to-day activities of the Office are supervised by an Executive-Director assisted by the Managers of each IP Directorate.