The All Party IP Group has launched its report, The Role of Government in Promoting and Protecting Intellectual Property and whereas past inquiries have been about policy, this report examines the policy process itself.

Launching the report John Whittingdale, MP Chair of the All-Party IP Group said, “The current system of creating intellectual property policy just isn’t working. IP needs a champion within Government, who will recognise its significance and who will have the influence to co-ordinate policy across different departments. From trade marks to patents, design rights and copyright, UK companies depend on their IP rights to succeed and thrive. In this difficult economic climate it’s especially important that Government backs British businesses on IP. We hope that Government will take note of our proposals.”

ACID (Anti Copying in Design), who, along with other IP stakeholders, contributed evidence to the inquiry, emphasised their concerns about policy making and the need to extend influence cross Government about the importance of IP to the UK and its growth prospects.

Dids Macdonald, ACID’s CEO said, “I welcome the APPG IP report recommendations and hope that this will galvanise a combined force for IP as a positive voice which will resonate to a much wider audience.”

The report’s six key recommendations are:

· The IP Minister should take on the role of being a champion of IP, supported by a small team in IPO or within BIS

· The IPO should revert to seeing IP as a property right

· The Government should be as concerned to promote the creation of new IP and how existing IP is assessed

· Ministers in BIS and their senior officials need to have greater oversight of the IPO

· The IPO’s oversight of copyright policy should be moved to DCMS

· Senior officials and Ministers at BIS should take a greater role in ensuring other Government departments consult them when developing policies affecting IP.

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