Opinions invited on intellectual property protection
The formal call for evidence was made on February 23rd 2006: submissions have to be received by April 21st 2006.
At the Enterprise Conference on 2 December 2005, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that he was asking Andrew Gowers to lead an Independent Review to examine the UK’s intellectual property framework. Mr. Gowers is to be assisted by a small secretariat of civil service officials and the team is to report to the Chancellor, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in Autumn 2006.
On the Treasury web site, it states, “Intellectual Property is a critical component of our present and future success in the global economy. Our economic competitiveness is increasingly driven by knowledge-based industries, especially in manufacturing, science-based sectors and the creative industries.
“While it has been suggested that the present UK system strikes broadly the right balance between consumers and rights-holders, it also appears that there are a variety of practical issues with the existing framework. The Review will look at both the instruments (patents, copyright, designs etc.) that are provided by government to protect creative endeavour, and also at the operations: how IP is awarded, how it is licensed in the market, and how it is enforced. The Review will examine whether improvements could be made and, as appropriate, make targeted and practical policy recommendations.”
The formal call for evidence was made on February 23rd 2006, submissions have to be received by April 21st 2006. Anyone with strong views should therefore not delay.More information from: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/gowers TS
