IP management software and system, without the chaos
IPBases is IP management software for law firms and IP teams. From the first filing to the final renewal, it keeps every piece of an IP matter — records, documents, money and deadlines — connected and accountable. It's the command center for a modern IP practice.
IP work is detail-heavy and unforgiving
Intellectual property is a business of dates, documents and duties. A single missed deadline or misfiled certificate can cost a client a right that took years to build. Yet many practices still run on tools that were never designed for IP.
IPBases is a purpose-built IP management system. Every matter is a living record with its documents, invoices, actions, correspondence and deadlines attached — and an append-only audit log that shows exactly who changed what, and when.
A complete IP management platform
Portfolio of record
One authoritative record per matter — status, jurisdiction, class, client and associate — always current.
Documents & specimens
Attach, version and retrieve every document against the matter it belongs to.
Deadline engine
Renewal and action dates computed automatically and surfaced before they bite.
Roles & permissions
Fine-grained, role-based access so people see exactly what they should — and no more.
Billing & invoicing
Raise invoices from the work itself and track collection across the practice.
Own your data
Self-hosted on your server, exportable any time, encrypted at rest. No lock-in.
IP management solutions for firms and in-house teams
IP management covers everything that happens to a right after the client instructs you: filing, examination, publication, registration, renewal, and the documents, deadlines and invoices along the way. IPBases is built for the people who do that work every day.
- IP law firms and agents — client and associate billing, notices to clients at every stage, and an Executive Brief for the partners.
- In-house IP teams — one intellectual property management system for the company’s trademarks, patents and designs, with documents and deadlines in one place.
- Regional practices — English and Arabic records, several currencies, and filings across the GCC and Middle East.
It covers patents and trademarks in one system, with an IP document workspace built into every record.
What to check in any IP management platform
- Deadlines are calculated, not typed. Renewal, priority and response dates should come from the filing data, with reminders before they fall due.
- Every right has its own shape. Trademarks need classes and renewal cycles; patents need claims, office actions and annuities; designs need views and their own priority window.
- Documents live on the record. A certificate should be one click from the mark it belongs to.
- Billing comes from the work. Invoices linked to filings, payments recorded, totals in one currency.
- Access is fine-grained. Who can see fees, who can delete, who handles patents.
- You can leave. Exports, and ideally a system you host yourself.
For a wider survey of IP management systems, read the best IP management software in 2026 and our fair comparison of FoundationIP pricing and alternatives.
Every report on one page
Version 2.1 adds the Executive Brief, permission groups with Allow and Never rules, a rebuilt billing report and an in-app Help Center. See everything new in 2.1 →
Software that fits how IP teams work
IPBases doesn't ask your team to change how they think about IP; it mirrors it. The filing wizard, the document workspace and the dashboard all follow the real lifecycle of a matter.
And because it's a one-time perpetual license you host yourself, your clients' confidential IP never leaves your control.
IP management system: frequently asked questions
What is an IP management system?
An IP management system (often called an IPMS, or simply IP management software) is the system of record for an IP portfolio. It holds each matter's status, jurisdiction, documents, deadlines and billing in one place, so nothing depends on a spreadsheet or on someone's memory.
What should IP management software do?
At a minimum: keep one authoritative record per matter, calculate renewal and action deadlines automatically and remind you before they fall due, store documents against the matter they belong to, control who can see what, and keep an audit trail of every change. Billing from the same record is what turns a database into a practice system.
Who is an IP management system for?
IP law firms, trademark and patent agents, and in-house IP teams that manage portfolios across jurisdictions. IPBases is built around the way IP practices work — associates, client billing and renewals included.
How is an IP management system different from a spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet stores dates that somebody typed in. An IP management system calculates them from the filing data, reminds you before they fall due, and records who changed what. It also keeps documents and invoices attached to the same matter instead of scattered across folders and tools.
Can I host it on my own server?
Yes. IPBases is self-hosted under a one-time perpetual license, so client data stays under your control. See self-hosted vs. SaaS trademark software for how the two models compare.
What is the best IP management software?
It depends on what you manage. Large patent departments with dedicated docketing staff often choose enterprise IPMS platforms. Trademark-led firms and regional practices usually get more from a system built around their workflow. Check deadline calculation, document handling, billing, permissions and exit terms, and see our buyer's guide.
What is the difference between IP management software and IP management services?
IP management services are outsourced: a provider files, renews or dockets for you. IP management software is the system your own team uses to do that work and keep the record. IPBases is software, installed on your server under a one-time license.
Does IPBases handle patents as well as trademarks?
Yes. Trademarks, patents and industrial designs each have their own record type, sharing clients, associates, documents, deadlines and billing. See patent and trademark management software.
Bring order to your IP portfolio
Talk to us about your practice, or click through the live demo with realistic data.
Book a demo → See pricing →Related solutions
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- Pricing →
- Patent and trademark management software →
- IP document management software →
- What’s new in IPBases 2.1 →