Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
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Ian Hargreaves to lead independent review into IP and growth
Professor Ian Hargreaves will lead an independent review into how the intellectual property system can better drive growth and innovation, it was announced today.
Intellectual Property Minister Baroness Wilcox revealed the review would be led by the current chair of Digital Economy at the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies and Cardiff Business School.
The review was launched by Prime Minister David Cameron during a speech to an audience of high tech businesses and entrepreneurs in London’s East End on Thursday.
Baroness Wilcox said:
“Professor Hargreaves is a distinguished academic, journalist and public servant. I am delighted someone of his calibre will lead this important piece of work.”
Professor Hargreaves has held senior positions at the BBC, Financial Times, The Independent, and New Statesman.
He was a founding non-executive board member of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) and an executive board member, and Director of Strategic Communications at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
In 2009 he was seconded part-time to conduct a review of Creative Industries in Wales for the Welsh Assembly Government.
The review is expected to report in April next year and will look at:
Barriers to new internet-based business models, including the costs of obtaining permissions from existing rights-holders;The cost and complexity of enforcing intellectual property rights within the UK and internationally;The interaction between IP and Competition frameworks;The cost and complexity to SMEs of accessing services to help them protect and exploit their IP.
Notes to Editors
1. The Intellectual Property Office is within the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills and responsible for the national framework of Intellectual Property rights, comprising patents, designs, trade marks and copyright. Its role is to help manage an IP system that encourages innovation and creativity, balances the needs of consumers and users, promotes strong and competitive markets and is the foundation of the knowledge based economy.
2. The Terms of Reference for the review are available here: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ipreview-tor.pdf
3. IPO Press Officer: Paul Conroy 020 7215 5303
4. BIS' online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Paul Conroy
Phone: 020 7215 5303
paul.conroy@bis.gsi.gov.uk
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