UK-IPO Issues Latest Edition Of IP Insight Newsletter

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

04 June 2008

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) has this week published the 14th edition of its IP Insight newsletter.

The publication addressed several issues of interest to entrepreneurs and businesses, including a feature on royalty payments by KPMG's David Eastwood, in which he warned that royalty cheques can easily fall short "without any ill intent", thereby depriving businesses of much needed revenue.

The feature explained that:

"Enterprises are becoming extended. They are finding themselves operating as hubs. Aside from their core activities, many functions are outsourced."

"Intellectual Property (IP) underpins nearly all of these types of commercial relationships. As well as licences, it features in co-marketing, data sharing, joint ventures, distribution and supply."

It asked: "If you are putting your IP in someone else's hands, can you be sure that they are going to account for it as conscientiously as you would? Can you rely on the royalty statements you are sent?"

The newletter also looked at the protection of software-based intellectual property, and provided an introduction to resolving patent disputes, explaining that:

"If you are involved in a dispute with someone else about a patent you might think that you have to go to the Courts to resolve the matter. In fact, there are other options open to you."

Failing an amicable settlement, the UK-IPO suggested, mediation may be a valuable alternative form of dispute resolution.

It went on to state that:

"The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) provides a mediation service (386Kb) to help companies and individuals resolve intellectual property disputes. We can provide a trained mediator and accommodation at our London or Newport Offices. The current fees for using a UK-IPO mediator and accommodation at our Newport Office are £500 for a half day or GBP750 for a full day."

"You might also want to consider obtaining a non-binding written opinion from the UK-IPO. This will give you an independent assessment of the main issues in dispute and help you and the other side test the strength of your arguments. An opinion costs GBP200 and takes no more than 3 months to be issued."

The newsletter additionally provided information on the new UK-IPO website search facility, outlined intellectual property related stories with an international flavour which had attracted media attention over the past month, and answered some frequently asked questions about IP issues and strategies.

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