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UK Appoints New Under-Secretary Of State For IP

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

12 July 2007

It emerged recently that the head of the newly created Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham, has appointed his new ministerial team, including Labour peer Lord Triesman as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Intellectual Property and Quality.

Lord Triesman is tasked with the role of Lords Minister for the whole Department, and has responsibility for:

  • The UK-Intellectual Property Office;
  • The Student Loans Company (and Customer First programme);
  • The student loan debt sale;
  • Endowments and voluntary giving for higher education;
  • Quality assurance of Higher Education;
  • UK-Intellectual Property Office;
  • Students as 'customers';
  • Scenario building across DIUS; and
  • Departmental efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability.

The stated role of the new DIUS is "to drive forward delivery of the Government's long-term vision to make Britain one of the best places in the world for science, research and innovation and to raise the level of education and skills at every level in our economy to give the UK the competitive edge".

In addition to Lord Triesman's appointment, Mr Denham announced the appointments of Bill Rammell as Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, Ian Pearson as Minister of State for Science and Innovation, and David Lammy as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills.

Reports have suggested that the creation of the new department by Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been broadly welcomed by the IP community. Speaking to the Managing Intellectual Property news service last week, Philip Harris, president of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) reportedly observed that:

"This new department demonstrates the importance the government places on nurturing innovation. It is very pleasing to see that, on his elevation to prime minister, Mr Brown has taken immediate action to raise the profile of IP with this new department."

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