Member Article

Government Announces Independent IP Review

With Ward Hadaway Law FirmThe Government has announced that it will launch an independent review into intellectual property (IP) laws in the UK. Chancellor Gordon Brown has asked Andrew Gowers, former Editor of the Financial Times, to lead the review, which follows the Labour Party’s commitment in its manifesto to “modernise copyright and other forms of intellectual property so that they are appropriate for the digital age”.Â

The review is to be run for 12 months and its extensive analysis will include the following:

• the manner in which the Government administers the registration and protection of IP and the support provided to consumers and businesses.
• how well businesses are able to manage the complexity and expense of the copyright and patent system.
• whether the current IP framework reflects the digital environment and whether provisions for ‘fair use’ by citizens are reasonable.
• whether the current length of copyright protection for sound recordings and performers’ rights is appropriate.

The Government has indicated that the review will be actively consulting relevant parties, however a contact address appears on the review website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/gowers

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .