This article outlines how to use the 'Official Offices' or 'Authority' section on the Contacts tab of a case.
Official Offices or Authorities allow users to generate correspondence templates to contacts at Official Intellectual Property Offices around the world.
Official Offices
By default, an Equinox system uses the 'Official Offices' functionality which lists all available IPO's that have been added to Equinox. This is a universal list that is managed and updated by the Equinox team.
Authorities
Users can choose to replace the 'Official Offices' functionality with 'Authorities'. This functionality enables users to customise the list of IPO's in your own system and generate all forms of correspondence to them.
Please see a comparison of the 2 options below:
| Official Offices (Default functionality) | Authorities |
| Hard-coded list of Official Offices - contact our Support team to request a new one | Add/Customise Authorities witin your own Address Book |
| Contact information managed and updated by Equinox | Contact information managed and updated by yourself |
| Full List of Offices displayed on all cases | Customise the Authorities displayed per case (Correspondence Management) |
| Stores the Postal Address information | Add specific People to correspond with e.g. Examiners |
| Generate Standard Letters (cannot generate emails) | Generate Standard Letters and Smart Templates (including emails) |
Note: A system will use Official Offices OR Authorities. It is not possible to use both within the same Equinox system.
For more information on creating Authorities in your Address Book please see: