December 2005
Government Reviewing Intellectual Property Law
The Chancellor has commissioned a 12 month review of intellectual property rights in the UK to be led by the former Editor of the Financial Times, Andrew Gowers.
The review has been set-up to be deal with the following issues:
- the complexity and expense of the copyright and patent systems including licensing and litigation issues pertaining to these systems;
- whether or not the established law adequately deals with the modern digital age;
- whether the rules that deal with the situations in which a person’s work can be copied is reasonable;
- whether the current period of protection in relation to sound recordings and performer’s rights is sufficient; and
- generally any problems with the administration of IP awards.
Briffa Comment:
The Labour Party has previously pledged to “modernise copyright and other forms of intellectual property so that they are appropriate for the digital age”. This is to be commended because as Andrew Gowers says, “Intellectual Property is at the heart of Britain’s success in the knowledge economy” (so it’s not just us who say so!).
The only caveat would be that the above are fine words but only time will tell the extent to which the review and any subsequent legislation based on the review give such words a practical effect.
Amandeep Singh
Intellectual Property Solicitor
aman@briffa.com