Implementing the Hargreaves review

In May 2011 Professor Ian Hargreaves published his Independent review of IP & growth. The 10 recommendations were broadly accepted in the Government's response (402Kb) issued on 3 August 2011.

We will be using this page to provide updates, data, consultation information and progress reports on the work we’re doing and where we are making progress.

Progress to date

February 2012

• Notes of Copyright Consultation Events published  
  
  If you would like an update on what's been going on at our events we have now started to publish readouts of the meetings.

January 2012

• Introducing a small claims track to the Patents County Court
  
  On 15 November 2011, the Government confirmed that following the completion of a positive value for money case, it will be introducing a small claims track to the Patents County Court.
  
  Today, 19 January 2012, we are inviting stakeholders to respond to a call for evidence which seeks comments and any relevant evidence on: the details of how the general small claims track should work in relation to resolving IP disputes; which types of IP dispute could be resolved through it and the renaming of the Patents County Court.
  
  For further information please see the call for evidence (189Kb) and draft impact assessment (283Kb).
  
  
• Digital Copyright Exchange (DCE) feasibility study
  
  On 4 January 2012, Richard Hooper, who is leading a feasibility study into a Digital Copyright Exchange, invited stakeholders within the creative industries to respond to a call for evidence which asks two questions:
  
  -  First, whether they agree with the 'Hargreaves Hypothesis' - that the current copyright licensing system
      is not fit for purpose for the digital age;
  -  Secondly whether they agree with his proposed definitions, including the market definition.
  
  For further information please see the feasibility study and call for evidence (142Kb).

December 2011

• Designs assessment
  
  On 19 December 2011, the IPO has published its assessment of the need to simplify the system. This paper details the current state of our research and our views on the need for more. It also records the suggestions for reform of the design IP framework that have been submitted to the Call for Evidence and survey.
  
  
• Copyright consultation
  
  On 14 December 2011, Baroness Wilcox, the Minister for Intellectual Property, launched a Government consultation seeking views on the Government’s proposals for implementing a number of the recommendations, relating to Copyright, it accepted in its response to the Hargreaves Review of IP and Growth.
  
  For further information, please read the press release issued on 14 December.
  
  
• IP Support for SMEs
  
  On December 8 a package of measures was announced, as part of the Government's Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth, outlining the IPO's plans to improve accessibility of the IP system to smaller companies, including lower cost integrated IP legal and commercial advice provision.
  
  For further information, please read the press release issued on 8 December.

November 2011

• Patents County Court
  
  In its response to Hargreaves the Government committed to consider renaming the Patents County Court to the Intellectual Property County Court by Autumn 2011. We have been considering the issues and require further evidence to establish the case for change. We continue to look for a low-cost way to change its name, which will enable businesses to readily identify which court resolves intellectual property cases. The change of name would build on a number of initiatives we have worked on to improve small business' access to justice such as the announcement of a small claims track to the Patents County Court.
  
  
• Patents Thickets - An Overview
  
  In the Government Response to the Hargreaves Review the IPO made a commitment to investigate the scale and prevalence of patent thickets. This included looking into the potential effects of thickets on new market entrants (such as SMEs) in technology sectors.
  
  Today, 25 November 2011, the IPO has published a report entitled "Patent Thickets - An Overview". Amongst other things, this report looks at how we define patent thickets, tools which help to automatically identify them, and where they might be found. In the coming months the IPO will build on the findings in this report, specifically in relation to market barriers to SMEs in technology sectors.
  
  For further information please read the report Patent Thickets - An Overview (1.35Mb).
  
  
• Richard Hooper to lead Digital Copyright Exchange feasibility study
  
  Business Secretary Vince Cable announces the appointment of Richard Hooper to lead a feasibility study on developing a Digital Copyright Exchange in the UK.
  
  Read more about Richard's appointment.
  
  
• New small claims service announced
  
  In its response to Hargreaves Review, the Government committed to introducing a small claims track into the Patents County Court (PCC), subject to a value for money case being made.  Today, 15 November, we are pleased to confirm that following a positive value for money case the Government has announced it will be introducing a small claims track to the PCC, which we hope will be operational before the end of next year.
  
  For further information, read the press release issued on 15 November 2011.
  
  
• Designers: Have your say
  
  The Designs Call for Evidence closed on 11 November 2011; we would like to thank all those who took the time to contribute to this and the survey and we hope to update you shortly on our findings.
  
  Check out our Hargreaves Designs page for further information.

October 2011

• New law helps businesses protect their IP Rights
  
  A new law came into force on 1 October giving small and medium sized businesses easier access to justice to protect their copyright and trade marks. The Patents County Court (Financial Limits) Order (No.2) 2011 creates a clearer definition of which disputes involving copyright and trade mark claims should be heard in the Patents County Court (PCC) and which ones should go to the High Court.
  
  For further information read the press release issued on 1 October 2011.