CERTIFICATION TERMS

1. Scope and application

These Certification Terms govern your participation in any CIP certification programme operated by Creative Intellectual Property Charity (“the Charity”). They apply to all five certification tracks (Creator, Agency, Legal, Underwriter, and Platform) and all three levels (Foundation, Application, and Practitioner). These terms are supplementary to the general Terms of Use and should be read alongside them.

By enrolling in any CIP certification programme, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Certification Terms.

2. Eligibility and enrolment

2.1 General eligibility

CIP certification is open to any individual or organisation that meets the entry requirements for their chosen track and level. There is no prerequisite qualification, membership, or professional standing required to begin Level 1 Foundation in any track.

2.2 Level progression

• Level 1 (Foundation): Open access. Course reading is free. Assessment requires a registered account.
• Level 2 (Application):Requires successful completion of Level 1. £295 per track, 24-month renewal cycle.
• Level 3 (Practitioner):Requires successful completion of Level 2. £795 per track, annual renewal. Practical submissions apply.

2.3 Organisational enrolment

Organisations enrolling for Agency or Platform Certification must nominate a primary contact responsible for the certification relationship and for ensuring ongoing compliance obligations are met.

3. Assessment rules and conduct

3.1 Assessment format

Assessments vary by track and level. They may include timed quizzes, written exercises, practical submissions, scenario-based simulations, or audit-based reviews. The specific format for each track and level is described on the relevant course page.

3.2 Conduct requirements

All candidates must:

• Complete assessments independently unless otherwise specified
• Not share assessment questions, answers, or materials with others
• Not use any unauthorised assistance during timed assessments
• Submit only their own original work for practical submissions
• Declare any conflict of interest relevant to the assessment content

3.3 Retakes

Assessments may be retaken. A maximum of three attempts per assessment level is permitted within any 12-month period. A waiting period of 7 days applies between attempts at Levels 2 and 3. There is no waiting period for Level 1 retakes.

3.4 Misconduct

Academic misconduct — including plagiarism, collusion, impersonation, or sharing of assessment materials — will result in disqualification from the current assessment, a minimum 6-month suspension from all CIP certification programmes, and potential permanent exclusion at the discretion of the Standards Committee.

4. Credential award and revocation

4.1 Award

Upon successful completion of all requirements for a given track and level, the Charity will issue the relevant credential. Credentials are recorded in the Rights Registry and are publicly verifiable. The specific credential awarded depends on your track:

• Creator track: CIP Creator Badge
• Agency track: CIP Agency Certification Mark
• Legal track: CIP Legal Practitioner Designation
• Underwriter track: CIP Underwriting Designation (AI-IP)
• Platform track: CIP Compliant Platform Mark

4.2 Revocation

The Charity may revoke a credential where:

• The credential was obtained through fraud, misrepresentation, or misconduct
• The holder fails to meet renewal requirements within the grace period (see section 5)
• The holder materially breaches these Certification Terms or the general Terms of Use
• An audit review (Agency or Platform track) identifies non-compliance that is not remediated within the specified timeframe
• The holder is found to have misused CIP marks or badges (see section 6)

Upon revocation, the credential is withdrawn from the Rights Registry, the holder's public listing is removed, and the holder must immediately cease using any associated marks, badges, or designations. The revocation decision and the holder's right of appeal will be communicated in writing.

5. Renewal requirements

5.1 Annual renewal

All CIP credentials operate on an annual renewal cycle. The renewal date is 12 months from the date of initial award (or most recent renewal). Renewal requirements vary by track:

• Creator:Continuing rights awareness assessment and confirmation that the holder's Core Data Record remains active and compliant.
• Agency: Annual audit review confirming ongoing client CDR compliance (minimum 80% coverage), contract standard adoption, and governance obligations.
• Legal: 10 hours of continuing professional development per year covering AI law, IP regulation, and CIP framework updates.
• Underwriter: Annual recalibration assessment reflecting updates to the GIPL pricing model and regulatory changes.
• Platform: Annual audit covering all six Platform Certification areas, including Rights Payload coverage (minimum 95%).

5.2 Grace period

A grace period of 30 days applies after the renewal date. During this period the credential remains active but is flagged as “renewal pending” in the Registry. If renewal is not completed within the grace period, the credential lapses automatically.

5.3 Lapsed credentials

A lapsed credential may be reinstated within 6 months by completing the renewal requirements and paying any applicable fees. After 6 months, the holder must re-certify from the most recent level.

6. Use of CIP marks and badges

6.1 Permitted use

CIP marks, badges, and designations may only be used after they have been formally awarded and while the credential remains active (including during any grace period). Permitted uses include:

• Display on professional profiles, CVs, and portfolios
• Inclusion in email signatures and professional correspondence
• Display on organisational websites (Agency and Platform tracks)
• Embedding in Core Data Records and cip.md declarations via the certified Generator

6.2 Prohibited use

You must not:

• Use any CIP mark, badge, or designation before it has been formally awarded
• Continue to use a mark after the credential has lapsed or been revoked
• Alter, modify, or distort any CIP mark or badge graphic
• Use a CIP mark in a manner that implies endorsement of a product, service, or organisation beyond the scope of the certification
• Transfer, sub-license, or permit any third party to use your CIP credential

6.3 Enforcement

Misuse of CIP marks constitutes a breach of these terms and may result in credential revocation, legal action for trade mark infringement, or both. The Charity monitors use of its marks and will take enforcement action where misuse is identified.

7. Certified cip.md Generator

7.1 Access

The certified mode of the cip.md Generator is available exclusively to holders of an active Practitioner or Expert credential in any of the five tracks. Certified mode produces a verifiable declaration with a real badge URL, certification level, and issuance date pre-populated from the Rights Registry record.

7.2 Responsibility for declarations

The holder is solely responsible for the accuracy of all rights declarations made through the certified Generator. The Charity verifies that the holder is certified; it does not verify the factual accuracy of the rights positions declared. A certified cip.md carries the holder's credential as a trust signal — not as a warranty of content accuracy by the Charity.

7.3 Withdrawal of access

Access to certified mode is withdrawn immediately upon credential lapse or revocation. Previously generated cip.md files remain valid for the period during which the credential was active but will show as “credential expired” upon Registry verification after lapse.

8. Continuing Professional Development

8.1 CPD obligations

Where a track requires CPD for renewal (currently the Legal track at 10 hours per year), the holder is responsible for recording and evidencing their CPD activity. CPD records are tracked through Creation Rights and may be audited by the Charity at any time.

8.2 Eligible CPD activities

Eligible activities include:

• Completion of CIP framework update modules published during the renewal period
• Attendance at CIP-recognised events, webinars, or conferences
• Publication of research, articles, or guidance relating to AI and IP law
• Participation in Standards Committee consultations or working groups
• Other demonstrably relevant professional development at the Charity's discretion

8.3 External CPD recognition

CIP certification may contribute to CPD requirements of external professional bodies (SRA, BSB, CILEx, CII, and others). The Charity publishes a Mutual Recognition Mapping indicating approximate CPD hour equivalences. Recognition by external bodies is subject to their own rules and is not guaranteed by the Charity.

9. Complaints and appeals

9.1 Assessment outcome appeals

If you believe an assessment outcome is incorrect, you may request a review within 14 days of receiving the result. Reviews are conducted by a different assessor from the one who marked the original submission. The review decision is final.

9.2 Revocation appeals

If your credential is revoked, you have the right to appeal the decision within 28 days of receiving written notice. Appeals are heard by the Standards Committee (or a panel thereof) excluding any member involved in the original decision. The Committee's decision on appeal is final.

9.3 General complaints

General complaints about certification processes, administration, or conduct should be directed to certification@creativeip.org. Where the matter cannot be resolved at operational level, it will be escalated to the Standards Committee. The Charity's general Complaints Procedure applies to all matters not specifically addressed in this section.

10. Limitation of liability

10.1 No guarantee of outcome

CIP certification is an educational credential. It does not guarantee any commercial outcome, professional appointment, regulatory approval, or legal protection. The Charity makes no representation that holding a CIP credential will result in any particular professional or commercial benefit.

10.2 Exclusion of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Charity shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from:

• Assessment outcomes, including any decision not to award, or to revoke, a credential
• Any reliance placed on a CIP credential by the holder or any third party
• Any commercial loss arising from credential lapse, revocation, or non-renewal
• The accuracy of rights declarations made through the certified cip.md Generator
• Any regulatory or legal proceedings in which a CIP credential is cited

10.3 Indemnity

You agree to indemnify the Charity against any claim, loss, or expense arising from your misuse of CIP marks, inaccurate rights declarations made through the certified Generator, or any breach of these Certification Terms.

11. Changes to these terms

The Charity may revise these Certification Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated to all active credential holders by email at least 30 days before taking effect. Your continued participation in any CIP certification programme after the effective date of a change constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. If you do not accept a material change, you may allow your credential to lapse at the next renewal date without penalty.

12. Governing law

These Certification Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising under these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

13. Contact

Questions about these Certification Terms should be directed to certification@creativeip.org.

Creative Intellectual Property Charity
Floor 2, 53 Courtfield Gardens, London SW5 0NF