COMPANIES in Bolton have bucked a national trend when registering their products, indentities and designs, according to new figures.

The number of patents granted to businesses and individuals in the area was 326 in 2003, according to the just-published Patent Office Facts and Figures booklet.

The patent figure was up from 252 in 2002.

Businesses in the region also registered 1,059 trademarks to protect the identities of their businesses and products and 294 design registrations for the look of their products.

While Bolton's figures are rising, the national picture is very different. The booklet also revealed that no British companies are among the 25 most active applicants for UK patents, indicating that domestic firms are still lagging behind international rivals in capitalising on intellectual property.

The highest-placed UK organisation in the Patent Office's top 50 list is the Ministry of Defence in 28th place.

The Patent Office has recently launched the 'What is the Key?' campaign, to help North-west businesses profit from the intellectual property that they own, such as patents, trademarks and design registrations. The organisation is encouraging businesses in the region to register at the website for more information on how to use their assets strategically and held a major seminar at the newly-opened Technical Innovation Centre on Minerva Road, Bolton, last week.

After an introduction from Ray Millard of Chamber Business Enterprises, Lawrence Smith-Higgins, the head of marketing at The Patent Office, hosted a seminar on IP rights for small businesses in the area.

There was also an introduction to the services of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents and the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys

Robin Webb, the Director of Trade Marks and Design at the Patent Office, said: "It is becoming increasingly important that businesses realise how to use their intellectual property to increase profits and expand their operations.

"The most business savvy organisations are capitalising on these assets to strike up new deals and collaborate with new partners. The days of ignoring what your competitors are doing with their intellectual property are gone."