"In its role of encouraging successful businesses, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has published a report, 'Competing in the Global Economy: The Innovation Challenge', which explores what innovation is, how it works and what can be done to help spread innovative best practice across the UK.
As part of the DTI, we at the Patent Office were asked to identify what role, if any, intellectual property rights (IPRs) play in supporting innovation. To help us do this, we contacted numerous stakeholders and also placed a list of questions on our website, asking for views on the way intellectual property (IP) helps or hinders innovation, and what could be done to improve things and by whom. The feedback we received confirmed our previous views that whilst IP plays an important role in supporting innovation, there are several issues that need to be addressed. They are:
A lack of awareness of IP;
The difficulties, especially the cost, of enforcing IPRs for individual companies, particularly SMEs;
The difficulties created by high and probably rising levels of IP crime.
As a result of these findings, which are discussed more fully in Chapter 4 of the Innovation Report, we will be working with our stakeholders to build on and take forward initiatives to:
Improve IPR awareness, by:
Targeting SMEs to ensure they can use the IP system effectively. We will build on the success of current initiatives such as HM Customs and Excise-led Business Advice Open Days and provide training in IP to business advisers;
Improving the available evidence-base on IP use and awareness as well as develop appropriate metrics to monitor and assess progress;
Targeting 'innovators of the future' such as business studies, design and technology students and young entrepreneurs to raise awareness of IP. The first element is a revised version of the successful 'THINK Kit';
Improve confidence in protection, by:
Improving the speed and costs of resolving IP disputes, by improving litigation and dispute resolution procedures (e.g. extending he jurisdiction of the Patents County Court as a lower cost alternative to the High Court, and bringing forward proposals in the Patents Bill;
Conducting a feasibility study of new institutional arrangements to help SMEs protect their IPRs;
Step up efforts in the area of IP crime by developing, in conjunction with rights holders and enforcement bodies, a new national strategy for dealing with IP crime, which will involve improving the evidence base, removing administrative overlap, and setting out agreed priorities."
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Dipl.-Phys. Axel H Horns is Patentanwalt (German Patent Attorney),
European Patent Attorney as well as European Trade Mark Attorney. In particular, he is Member of:
web site of the UK-PTO:
