FITUG e.V.
Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft
FITUG e.V.Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft |
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http://www.patent.gov.uk/dpolicy/ipgroup.html
Intellectual Property Group recommends improved awareness about Intellectual Property
Proposals to raise the awareness and knowledge of intellectual property to aid the success of the creative industries and benefit the wider community were published today by Dr Kim Howells, Consumer Affairs Minister. The report by the Intellectual Property Group was welcomed by Culture Secretary Chris Smith.
The Intellectual Property Group, set up by the Creative Industries Task Force in May 1999 under the chairmanship of Dr Howells, studied how to promote the contribution made by intellectual property to the success of the creative industries by improving the knowledge of and respect for intellectual property amongst all sectors.
The key recommendations of the report include:
assessing current levels of awareness about intellectual property so as to be able to identify key messages to raise awareness of the value of intellectual property;
rationalising and improving information about intellectual property available to users, creators, businesses, advisers and enforcers, including by signposting from the University for Industry and the Small Business Service;
teaching about intellectual property in schools and higher and further education; and
training enforcers so they are better able to act against counterfeiting and piracy and targeting information at consumers about the damage caused by the purchase of counterfeit and pirate goods.
Dr Howells said:
"The knowledge economy depends on strong intellectual property rights but improving messages about the benefit of these rights to both creators and the wider community is also critical. I have found invaluable the opportunity to work with the creative industries and copyright user interests to deliver this report showing the way forward to achieve real and lasting improvements in the public’s perception of the need for intellectual property."
"This report demonstrates that there is much more work to be done and I am keen to advance this work. I know that members of the Intellectual Property Group also attach great importance to seeing this work come to fruition and I hope in our future work others will also join us with the same commitment as those who have helped deliver this report."
Mr Smith said:
"Our Creative Industries are a success story. They generate over £60 billion of revenue a year, employ around 1.4 million people; and are growing at twice the national average. Intellectual property rights are at the heart of the new knowledge economy and are of vital importance to the creative industries. Greater recognition by the public of the role and importance of intellectual property rights must be encouraged. This report presents a welcome action plan for effecting such a positive change."
Copies of the report of the Intellectual Property Group of the Creative Industries Task Force can be obtained by clicking here (pdf file 404kb).
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