§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and industry what assessment she has made of the research commissioned by the Patent Office and conducted by Mori1376W into public attitudes towards intellectual property rights; and what action her Department will take to safeguard those rights based upon the results of this research. [8279]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Mori research showed that long-term and sustainable action to improve public perceptions is needed and messages are more likely to be understood by the public if they can see the direct impact on them. The work the Department had already commenced, based on these approaches, is therefore continuing. Introducing school children to intellectual property concepts, improving the information available to creators and users of intellectual property and campaigning to highlight the consumer as well as business detriment where counterfeiting and piracy occurs are all key areas.