IPTA Social Media Policy
30/04/25
INTRODUCTION
Online publications including posting on business-related networking websites (Social Media) has become a mainstream method of communication. Social Media allows IPTA to distribute information promoting the organisation’s activities and objectives, and material of interest to IPTA Members. IPTA encourages the positive and respectful use of Social Media.
This Policy aims to assist the IPTA Secretariat and IPTA Councillors in understanding and guiding how to effectively engage with Social Media.
If you are unclear about any aspect of the Policy or would like further guidance on engaging with Social Media, please contact the IPTA Secretariat for further guidance.
PURPOSE
- To provide the IPTA Secretariat and IPTA Councillors with guidance on the best use of Social Media for activities involving IPTA, including furthering IPTA objectives, engaging with IPTA Members and use of IPTA branding.
- To increase awareness of the potential risks posed by the public and permanent nature of Social Media, and to maintain standards of behaviour consistent with IPTA’s objectives.
WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA?
Social Media is an interactive means of sending and receiving online information and content using Internet-based technologies.
The engagement with Social Media typically involves the generation of content for exchange online through various platforms, including but not limited to the following:
- TikTok
- X (previously Twitter)
- YouTube
In engaging with Social Media, users may post content or react to other users’ content. This may include the upload of photos or video into “posts”, but could also include status updates, “likes”, comments, and other forms of engagements permitted by the relevant platform.
ENGAGING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA FOR IPTA-RELATED CONTENT
Any engagement by IPTA through its official accounts on a Social Media platform (Social Media Accounts) or website must be with the authorisation of the IPTA Secretariat and be consistent with IPTA’s objectives, the IPTA Code of Ethics, IPTA Guidelines, and the Code of Conduct for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys. Approval for any material published on an IPTA Social Media Account or the IPTA Website must come from the IPTA Secretariat, which will liaise with the current IPTA President and/or Vice Presidents as necessary in using official IPTA Social Media Accounts.
IPTA Members may contact the IPTA Secretariat and request that their Social Media posts are “liked” by one or more official IPTA Social Media Accounts. The IPTA Secretariat may also proactively “like” Social Media posts of IPTA members. In doing so, the IPTA Secretariat will act at its discretion to ensure balanced use of IPTA’s Social Media Accounts.
The IPTA Secretariat and IPTA Councillors should be aware that any content posted on Social Media associated with their official and/or individual profile(s) has the potential to reflect on IPTA. For example, readers may perceive that such content represents the opinion of IPTA.
The IPTA Secretariat and IPTA Councillors will act to avoid any misrepresentation, and make every effort to avoid any unintended representation, that any individual views expressed on Social Media represent the views of IPTA.
All Social Media activity of the IPTA Secretariat and IPTA Councillors should adhere to the IPTA Code of Ethics, IPTA Guidelines, and the Code of Conduct for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the Policy, please contact the IPTA Secretariat.
