UK Patent Reform Group Calls For More Support For Inventors

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

16 November 2004

Speaking to the Observer at the weekend, inventor and head of the Patent Reform Group, John Mitchell urged the UK government to improve the patent protections available for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Despite the passing of a new Patent Act in July, Mr Mitchell told the newspaper that: "Britain has become a breeding ground for foreign predators," and suggested that each year, intellectual property theft is costing the UK billions of pounds in lost revenue.

One of the key problems for small businesses and individual inventors, according to the Patent Reform Group chief, is the cost involved in defending patents and copyrights against infringement in the courts.

Consequently, the organisation is asking the UK Patent Office to establish its own arbitration service, in order to provide a cheaper alternative to lengthy court battles, or to create a 'fighting fund' to assist the financing of litigation for inventors. Additionally, the PRG has called for infringers to pay punitive damages to their victims as well as compensation.

However, speaking to the Observer on behalf of the Patent Office, Jeremy Philpott suggested that the situation was not as dire as it was being painted by the Patent Reform Group, explaining that:

"We have more than 300,000 valid patents on our register, and 8,000 are added every year. Of those, only about a dozen to 20 become the subject of infringement disputes. And you'll find a small company infringing the patent of a large company as often as vice versa."

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