IP and the Technology Blueprint

Prime Minister, David Cameron, has announced an independent 6 month review of the UK’s Intellectual Property system. The review is intended to identify ways in which the Government can help make Britain the most attractive place in the world to start and invest in innovative technology companies.

The Government has published a “Technology Blueprint” that details how the Government will support high-tech innovation, including a full review of the existing IP system. The review aims to identify barriers to growth within the IP system. This will cover the rules and regulations concerned with how IP is created, used and protected in this country. It will particularly focus on how the IP system can be improved to help protect new business models arising from new digital technologies.

Most reports of the initiative have focussed on the impact of copyright laws, with a suggestion that US-style “fair use” rules might be introduced whereby the circumstances in which copyright works can be used without the copyright owner’s express permission are relaxed.

However, the review will also look at improvements to the patent system, and the introduction of a “peer to patent” project. This aims to improve the quality of granted patents by ensuring that Patent Office Examiners are provided with the most relevant information on prior art. This is to be achieved by allowing the public to more easily comment on selected patent applications, with the most relevant comments being passed on to the Examiner.

This wide-ranging review seeks to ensure that the UK’s IP system is in good shape to reflect the many changes brought about by recent advances in digital technology.