Use
The 9 recommendations relating to the use of the IP system and the timetable for initial action.
| Recommendation | Timeframe for initial action |
|---|---|
| Recommendation 26: The Patent Office should provide comprehensive information on how to register and use IP rights for firms registering with Companies House. | Carried out - information regarding IP is available on Companies House website on their Incorporation page; in addition all Companies House literature makes reference to trade marks and the importance of searching the trade marks register before registering a company name. Contact details for the UK-IPO are also available. In August the UK-IPO in partnership with Business Link and Companies House are launching a joint trade mark and company name search facility. This will be available on the Business Link website; this facility will allow SMEs to search both registers at the same time thus reducing overlap and confusion between trade marks and company names. |
| Recommendation 27: Improve SME business IP support by establishing formal collaboration between the Patent Office and Business Link and by conducting a pilot replicating the French ‘IP Genesis’ scheme. | IP Health Check pilot has been completed and individual reports sent to the businesses that took part. Health Check report to be published in October 08. |
| Recommendation 28: Investigate how best to provide practical IP advice to UK firms operating in foreign markets, in coordination with industry bodies, the Patent Office and UK Trade and Investment. | IP Rights Primer Guides developed by UKTI and UK-IPO have been completed for Brazil, China, India, Korea and Vietnam. Guides are launched on 8 August 08. |
| Recommendation 29: The Patent Office should develop ‘Business-to-Business’ model IP licences through industry consultation, and assessment of the Lambert model licences. | Working group established; met with Lord Triesman in January, Baroness Morgan in July 2008. Guidance booklet "How licensing intellectual property can help your business" published 31 July. Ministerial launch planned for Autumn 2008. Prototype of second level of online resources to be developed by March 2009. |
| Recommendation 30a: The Patent Office should publish and maintain an open standards web database, linked to the EPO’s esp@cenet web database, containing all patents issued under licence of right. | On target for completion by end 2008 |
| Recommendation 30b: The Patent Office should publish and maintain an open standards web database, linked to esp@cenet containing all expired patents. | On target for completion by end 2008 |
| Recommendation 31: DTI should consider whether guidance for firms on reporting of intangible assets could be improved, including the provision of model IP reports. | Review of guidance will be completed in Autumn 2008 and updated literature will be launched via various partners, for example, business links, banks, and business federations by December 2008. |
| Recommendation 32: Form a working group with Patent Office, RDA and Business Link representation, to identify and promote best practice to maximise the use of effective schemes nationwide. | Scheduled for completion by Summer 09. UK-IPO has developed links with individual RDAs, Business Link, UKTI and the Devolved Administrations by way of delivering Business Advisor Training and IP Management training to all UK business advisors. |
| Recommendation 33: The Review invites the OFT to consider conducting a market survey into the UK collecting societies to ensure the needs of all stakeholders are being met. | OFT has decided not to pursue this |
| Recommendation 34: Increase cooperation between the UK Patent Office, the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission to ensure that competition and IP policy together foster competitive and innovative markets for the benefit of consumers. | Regular meetings have been established |
