Digital Rights Network

deadline: 2006-08-21
email: innovation@patent.gov.uk
url: http://www.patent.gov.uk/about/consultations/support/

From the UKPO Site

Introduction

1. The Patent Office has been considering how it can deploy its considerable knowledge, resources and expertise to support innovation in the UK beyond our existing support activities and core statutory functions of granting IP rights, serving as a tribunal and providing advice on IP policy to Ministers. To this end, we have prepared a strategy for supporting innovation which is the subject of this consultation. Annex 1, describes how the Office intends contributing to the Government’s innovation support agenda by building on its existing support activities and pursuing new initiatives.

2. Appended to the strategy is a wide ranging action programme which constitutes a menu from which activities will be pursued when resources permit. The Office will not necessarily lead on all the activities. Where we propose working in partnership with other organisations our aim is to establish how best we can engage with them in support of joint objectives. Priority will be given to actions which offer the greatest benefit in respect to innovation.

3. An independent review of the intellectual property rights in the UK is currently being undertaken by Andrew Gowers who has been appointed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to lead the review and report in Autumn this year. See the Gowers Review website off site link for more information.

4. We want to ensure that our strategy for supporting innovation, particularly the programme of activities we have identified, is appropriately focused to make the most effective and efficient use of the Office's expertise and resources. We are also keen that our strategy complements rather than duplicates or cuts across innovation support activities being carried out by others. Above all we want to ensure that the strategy will deliver maximum benefits to UK business. This consultation is intended to give all interested parties the opportunity to help fashion the strategy so that it achieves these objectives.

Please send your responses by 21 August 2006 to:

Sally Vaughan
Patents Directorate
Room 2R45
The Patent Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
NP10 8QQ

Fax: +44 (0)1633 811020
Tel: +44 (0)1633 814543
E-mail: innovation@patent.gov.uk

8. If you are responding on behalf of a representative group, please give a summary of the people and organisation that you are representing.