Statutory recognition of professions in the UK requires the particular functions being controlled by statute to be defined. It has not proved possible to isolate the functions that engineers undertake, except in narrow sectors (dam designers, certificated marine engineers, mining engineers). Unsurprisingly, coverage of other professions is rarely comprehensive. For instance, medical procedures may in fact be undertaken by anyone who obtains the consent of their patient. Restrictions on legal practice are confined to the courtroom - legal advice is freely available from unregistered lawyers.

In most of Europe professional engineers hold a title 'ingenier', or similar. The word is not defined in the same way as 'engineer' and may therefore be protected, legally. Commonwealth and ex-commonwealth countries like Australia and the USA suffer the same problems as the UK.

The word 'engineer' has been in common use in the English language for many centuries, and is widely understood by the public to describe anyone whose work relates to engineering - particularly manufacture or maintenance. There is no likelihood that the engineering profession could obtain rights to prevent existing users using the term to describe themselves.

The registered titles 'Chartered Engineer', 'Incorporated Engineer', 'Engineering Technician' and 'Information and Communications Technology Technician' and their related designatory letters, are protected by civil law. The Engineering Council and the Institutions pursue abusers of these titles through the courts.

The legal system in the British Isles and many non-Europen countries is permissive - the common law having developed in such a way as to maximise individual rights. Health and Safety regulations tend to apply to employers and (corporate) operators. Attempts to restrict access to professional practice are these days seen as anti-consumer, or anti-competitive.