[FYI] UK: New re-vamped Intellectual Property Advice to Government

["Axel H Horns" <horns@ipjur.com>]

http://www.patent.gov.uk/about/press/releases/2001/revamp.htm

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New re-vamped Intellectual Property Advice to Government  

DTI Press Notice  

Melanie Johnson, Minister for Competition, Consumers and Markets, 
today announced the members of the new Intellectual Property Advisory 
Committee. The committee will provide long-term strategic advice on 
the whole range of IP issues including patents, copyright, trade 
marks and designs.  

Melanie Johnson said:  

" From access to patented medicines to copyright and the internet, 
intellectual property issues have never been more important.  

"An effective intellectual property framework is central to the 
twenty-first century economy."  

The Intellectual Property Advisory Committee (IPAC) will look at this 
area in its social and economic context. The committee will also give 
independent advice on identifying and responding to emerging and 
strategic issues.  

The committee will be chaired by Ian Harvey, Chief Executive of BTG 
plc and Chairman of the Intellectual Property Institute. Ian Harvey 
is a leader in this field. Since 1985 he has been the chief executive 
officer of a successful company whose business, of finding and 
commercialising new technologies, depends heavily on IP.  

The other members of the committee are:

Diana Adie, former head of IP at the BBC;
Professor Sue Birley, Director of Imperial College Entrepreneurship 
Centre and businesswoman;
Richard Gallafent, patent attorney;
Professor Paul Geroski, economist and deputy-chair of the Competition 
Commission;
Mandy Haberman, businesswoman and inventor of the "Anywayup Cup";
Roland Hill, consulting engineer, inventor and businessman;
Paul Johnston, IP Manager at ICI Paints and ICI Group Trade Mark 
Counsel;
Hilary Newiss, self-employed solicitor and IP consultant;
David Perkins, solicitor and head of IP Europe at Clifford Chance;
Tim Roberts, patent attorney, president of the Chartered Institute of 
Patent Agents, and former IP manager at Zeneca Seeds;
Dr Sandy Thomas, director of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics;
Professor David Vaver, director of Oxford University IP Research 
Centre.

The committee will consider:

how IP can best contribute to Government objectives; risks and 
challenges to the working of the IP system; how to foster development 
of an international IP system which encourages innovation and 
benefits consumers while balancing the needs of IP producers and 
consumers, and large and small business; wider effects of IP policy, 
including competition questions, and issues which cause public 
concern; the impact of new technology; where consultation and/or 
research is needed; the recommendations of other Government advisory 
IP bodies, such as the Human Genetics Commission and the 
International Commission on Intellectual Property Rules.  

The committee will hold its first meeting in the Autumn, and is 
expected to meet three or four times a year.

Notes for Editors

1.  More information about the new committee and its role is 
available at http://www.intellectual-property.gov.uk/ipac  

2.  The intention to establish the new committee was announced in a 
written Parliamentary answer on 10 April, following a
review of the Standing Advisory Committee on Industrial Property. 
Since then the Patent Office has conducted a recruitment
process, in accordance with Nolan rules on public appointments.

3.  Ian Harvey has been appointed for three years, and will receive 
£1,500 per annum. Members will receive an allowance of
£135 for each day on which they attend meetings. There will also be 
reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs, and costs
of care for dependants incurred as a result of attending meetings.

4.  Duration of appointments, and details of other public 
appointments and political activities not mentioned above:

     Ian Harvey (3 years) – DTI's Particle Physics and Astronomy
     Research Council appointments committee; 
     Professor Sue Birley (3 years) – DTI's Foresight panel; 
     Richard Gallafent (3 years) – none; 
     Professor Paul Geroski (3 years) – none; 
     Mandy Haberman (2 years) – Patent Office's Intellectual Property
     Strategic Information Technology Advice Committee;
     Roland Hill (2 years) – none; 
     Paul Johnston (3 years) – none; 
     Hilary Newiss (2 years) – DoH/DTI Human Genetics Commission; 
     David Perkins (4 years) – none; 
     Tim Roberts (4 years) – national committee member of ProLife
     Alliance; 
     Dr Sandy Thomas (4 years) – HMG International Commission on
     Intellectual Property Rules, DTI Foresight panel,
     FCO Economic and Social Committee; 
     Professor David Vaver (4 years) – none. 

There is no remuneration beyond travel and other expenses for any of 
the posts mentioned, apart from membership of the
International Commission on Intellectual Property Rules for which 
£500 is paid for each meeting attended. 

Original release date: 1 August 2001.

Last updated 01 August 2001 

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