On 19 May 2025, the Intellectual Property Minister, Feryal Clark, confirmed the UK will maintain its current IP exhaustion regime, turning down proposals to expand to an international exhaustion model (read the announcement here)

This means that once the rights holder, or their authorised distributor, sells a product –  eg. a patented invention, copyrighted work, or trademarked good – they cannot control its resale or movement within the UK. Their rights are considered “exhausted” after first sale.

 

Why CIPA is Applauding this Move?

Dr. Bobby Mukherjee, President of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA), immediately expressed support. In his letter to Minister Clark, he noted that CIPA had repeatedly advised retaining the status quo, both in 2021 and 2023.

He argued that introducing “choice” between different international exhaustion regimes could complicate global trade and doesn’t necessarily benefit consumers or businesses.

Mukherjee emphasised that the UK’s existing approach is not only fact-based and evidence-driven but also aligned with the needs expressed by stakeholders—an approach CIPA has consistently urged.

Minister Feryal Clark praised this decision:

“This is an important step in maintaining the strength of our world‑leading intellectual property framework. The decision we’ve taken not only gives businesses the certainty they’ve been calling for, but ensures consumers have choice and fair access to a wide range of goods.”

 

Why It Matters

  1.  Stability for UK businesses

Predictable rules mean businesses can plan their supply chains and market strategies without worrying about abrupt regulatory shifts.

  1. Consumer benefit

Consumers retain the freedom to resell, import, or use goods freely once they’ve paid for them—protecting everyday market freedom.

  1. Global clarity

Abandoning the move to international exhaustion helps avoid cross-border trade complications arising from conflicting regimes.

 

Conclusion

This move reinforces the UK’s pro-IP, innovation-friendly ecosystem, striking a pragmatic balance between legal certainty, business interests, and consumer freedoms. By keeping a measured, evidence-based approach, the government and CIPA collectively are safeguarding an IP regime that favours clarity over complexity—and enterprise over unpredictability.

 

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