Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group

Trade marks are an important source of orientation for both patients and healthcare professionals in the pharmaceutical market, with its confusing multitude of products. Not only are they valuable marketing instruments of pharmaceutical companies, but they also help to avoid name related medication errors, thus increasing patient safety.

Founded in 1970, PTMG has been a success story ever since: over more than 5 decades a family-like group of specialized trade mark professionals, with a high representation from the pharmaceutical industry, has evolved. The initial ideas of our founders are still up to date, since the original challenges to create successful global pharmaceutical brands subsist to this day. New developments such as the digital revolution and the increased importance of regulatory aspects have led to additional challenges. PTMG today is a lively organisation bringing together a group of highly dedicated trade mark professionals with a lot of passion for, as well as experience in, the pharmaceutical field.

Please note that the above logo is a trade mark of PTMG.

Who we are

PTMG was established as an unincorporated organisation at a meeting held on 25th September 1970 in the then offices of Sterling-Winthrop in Surbiton, Surrey, England. It was converted into a company limited by guarantee registered in England in 2002.

Our aim

PTMG is a not for profit organisation. The primary objective of PTMG is to enable members to meet at regular intervals to consider problems of mutual interest. It does this by running educational conferences relating to the law and practice of trade marks and other intellectual property particularly as they affect pharmaceutical and related industries.

Management

PTMG is managed by a Committee selected from the membership on the recommendation of the Board.  The company’s Annual General Meeting is held each year at the beginning of the Spring Conference. Only Full Members are eligible to vote at the AGM.

Membership

Membership of the Group is open to any professional working with pharmaceutical and related industry trade marks. There are two categories of membership:

  • Full Membership is available to individuals having a genuine trade mark responsibility as salaried employees of companies having establishments or affiliated companies engaged in the pharmaceutical and related industries. The Board is empowered to appoint as a member any individual who is involved in the management of PTMG.
  • Associate membership is available to those having an interest in pharmaceutical and related industry trade marks.  Associate Members are allowed to attend the conferences but not to vote in PTMG’s AGM.