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Intellectual property measures introduced by Government

New measures to support UK growth and protect intellectual property (IP) have been set out by the Business Secretary, Vince Cable.

Help for businesses to turn ideas into tangible results has been offered, and new measures will speed up the patenting service and provide education on how to get the best value from innovation.

Speaking at The Big Innovation Centre, Dr Cable said changes will be made within the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), including the introduction of a 90 day patent service and an accelerated trade mark examination process.

The proposals also included a campaign to increase awareness around the importance of intellectual property and the harm illegal downloading and counterfeiting can do.

Dr Cable also announced IPO would work alongside the City of London Police and other key partners to deal with crime related to IP and online piracy.

The Government said it would specifically target young people in schools, at theme parks and online to educate them about IP, while measures to protect consumers from piracy will be put in place next year.

Dr Cable commented: “Our creativity, our openness to and talent for innovation, is a key pillar of our return to robust growth.

“So it is right we work to create the environment in which creative, innovative businesses of all shapes and sizes flourish.

“A vital part of getting this is making sure that the intellectual property landscape encourages and cements success and growth.The new vision for how we support businesses and consumers is central to achieving this.”

IPO will pilot an advisory scheme for SMEs that have growth potential, and work closely with trade associations like UK Trade and Investment, the chambers of commerce, as well as banks and accountancy firms.

Rights for the creators of IP will be strengthened, according to Dr Cable’s announcement, while a stronger attaché network will be implemented to place new business attachés in overseas markets.

A new attaché will be introduced in Singapore to work within the South Asian markets, and to buttress links already made in China, India and Brazil.

A UK enforcement summit is due to be held in Summer 2013, where countries from around the world will come to discuss best practice and ways to tackle breaches in IP law.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .