ITMA
Is the UK government finally taking an interest in IP?
Te signs are that the UK’s coalition government is beginning to recognise that IP is an integral part of business, and is therefore important to the UK economy. Te Hargreaves Review, a government-commissioned analysis of the UK’s IP framework, was announced in December 2010 and the subsequent report and recommendations were published in early 2011 aſter a consultation period. Although the Hargreaves Review largely focused on copyright, it did receive submissions from ITMA and the institute has followed the implementation of the review’s recommendations with interest.
ITMA is keen to see IP featuring in early education, even if only at a basic level. Tis would mean that those who go on to start their own businesses would be more aware of the basics than is the case now. A greater appreciation of the benefits of IP protection and enforcement will help reduce the problems that currently arise
when IP is an aſterthought, a sad fact that too oſten contributes to the undoing of great product ideas and businesses.
ITMA is particularly interested in the review of the UK design registration system. Te institute responded to the call for evidence from the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) and it is lobbying for a complete revision of the relevant law and a substantial reduction in the cost of litigation in the UK. ITMA believes that it would be advisable for the design system to be simplified and for there to be some harmonisation of EU rights and UK unregistered design rights.
ITMA has welcomed reforms to the UK’s Patents County Court (PCC) and the UK government’s recent announcement that a new small claims service will be introduced. Tis should help SMEs to protect their copyright, patents, trademarks and designs. Te institute hopes that the PCC will hear more trademark and design cases so that they do not have to either go through the more expensive high court or be dropped
altogether. Te PCC is perhaps overlooked by IP owners simply because of its name. ITMA supports the campaign to have the PCC’s name changed to the IP County Court.
Let’s not forget Europe
Te European Trademark and Design System, which is operated by the Office of Harmonisation for the Internal Market (OHIM), has been through some structural changes since António Campinos was appointed as OHIM’s president. A backlog of trademark opposition and cancellation actions remains but there have been improvements. However, appeals still suffer from delays, and ITMA hopes that a solution will be found to this problem in the near future. As an official member of the OHIM Users Group, ITMA has engaged with the office and commented on its strategic plans for the future. Te institute is exhorting the office to continue to communicate with its customers and it has encouraged OHIM to do more to develop the harmonisation of national systems across member states. Talk
THE INSTITUTE IS EXHORTING THE OFFICE TO CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ITS CUSTOMERS AND IT HAS ENCOURAGED OHIM TO DO MORE TO DEVELOP THE HARMONISATION OF NATIONAL SYSTEMS ACROSS MEMBER STATES.
26
World Intellectual Property Review e-Digest 2012
www.worldipreview.com
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