§ Lady Olga MaitlandTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures the Government are taking to stop the infringement of copyright by illegal video duplication.
§ Mr. McLoughlinCopyright owners have considerable powers under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to take appropriate legal action themselves against those infringing their intellectual property rights. In addition, this legislation provides for significant criminal penalties for those who make or trade in unauthorised copies of audiovisual works, demonstrating the importance that the Government attach to combatting this illegal activity. The Patent Office's promotional literature and associated audiovisual aids continue to play a major role in increasing the general awareness of the rights existing in these works.