Intellectual Property
The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) develops and publishes a wide range of guidance that is protected by various Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). OGC have appointed an Official Publisher, The Stationery Office (TSO) and an Official Accreditor, APM Group (APMG), to assist them in providing quality products and services based on their best management practice methodologies. As well as accrediting organizations, the APM Group helps to manage and sub-licenses the use of OGC Intellectual Property in relation to PRINCE2®, MSP®, M_o_R®, ITIL®, P3O®, P3M3™.
APM Group issues all Accredited Organizations with an IP Sub-Licence, to enable them to use the IP within their accredited activity. As part of our assessments we check to ensure that all sub-licensees acknowledge the use of trade marks and Crown Copyright and are displaying the correct IP. Accredited Organizations are provided with IP Guidelines and we actively help in understanding and implementing these.
APM Group has also been granted delegated authority by OGC to issue sub-licenses for the re-use of OGC's trade marks and Crown copyright to other third parties. This means that we are able to issue sub-licenses to non-accredited organizations and individuals who wish to re-use OGC's intellectual property within their products. This trade mark and (and copyright) Licensing Scheme offers many benefits.
Find out more about our Trade Mark (and Copyright) Licensing Scheme.
The APM Group also administers the ITIL Software Scheme. This is a branch of the Trade Mark (and Copyright) Licensing Scheme that allows software tool vendors to use an ITIL Process Compliant logo.
Find out more on the Official ITIL Website.
If you wish to re-use the Intellectual Property belonging to APM Group, please Contact Us.
IP Infringements
Through the Intellectual Property Management Board chaired by OGC, we work together with OGC, TSO and OPSI (Office of Public Sector Information) to actively assist in the protection of OGC's IP by direct surveillance of websites and by using our network of Accredited Organizations to bring potential infringements to our attention and take action where necessary.
TSO manage the infringement process and any infringement can be reported by email to ogcinfringements@best-management-practice.com.
Please provide your name, contact details and as much information about the infringement as possible, including the nature of the infringement and any contact details you may have found for the infringer.
Alternatively you are able to report the infringement via the Best Management Practice website. Please enter the details via the link on this page.
"The quality and rigour of our accreditation systems and our proactive protection of IPR ensure that our partners know that we will guard and sustain the vitally important reputation of their standard."
