UK Patent Office Launches Consultation On Improving IP Regulation

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

19 July 2005

The UK Patent Office on Friday launched a consultation on implementing regulations that would make it simpler to enforce intellectual property rights in civil law across the EU, so giving individuals and companies developing new technologies and products much greater confidence that their ideas will be protected.

Consistent regulation across the EU would also help encourage greater cross-border investment and the increased movement of goods and knowledge across the EU. Intellectual Property (IP) crime has a serious economic effect in the UK and around the world and the Patent Office is continuing to work with enforcement and industry partners to fight such crime.

The IP Crime Group has set out a 4 point action plan based on the first National IP Crime Strategy published last August. The EC also published proposals to combat criminal infringements of IP rights. The European Council and Parliament are now taking the Commission proposals forward for further discussion and development.

The Consultation on EC Directive 2004/48/EC on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights will run until 7 October.

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