Lord Sainsbury Issues Piracy Warning

By Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

24 July 2006

In a keynote speech delivered recently to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), the UK's Minister for Science and Innovation, Lord Sainsbury revealed that in order to meet the challenge of Intellectual Property (IP) theft by organised crime groups, the Patent Office has developed the National IP Crime Strategy, which brings together enforcement agencies and industry to tackle IP theft nationally.

This in turn has led to the development of TellPat, a national database for recording counterfeiting and piracy activities, which will provide strategic information for spot raids at markets and other venues across the country throughout the year.

Lord Sainsbury explained that:

"We want to provide in the UK the best possible conditions for business and our communities to innovate and grow. We don't want Intellectual Property crime to harm society either in lost jobs or poor quality products. And we are determined to stamp this out. The clear message to IP criminals is that the UK is no longer a safe environment for you. Our joint intelligence will lead to more surprise raids, in more locations, and we will take action against all those who are involved."

The first of a series of raids has already taken place at Wembley market at the end of 2005, and netted more than GBP1.5 million worth of counterfeit goods. As a result approximately 34 people are being prosecuted, with intelligence also passed to other agencies for action.

The Science and Innovation Minister went on to add:

"The UK IP system awards an inventor in his garage or the composer in his bedroom as much as a big pharmaceutical company or a superstar. They are awarded the same rights and the same conditions and privileges."

Recommended