§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent representations he has received about industrial design protection and unauthorised home taping; from whom and what response he has made;
(2) pursuant to the answer of 14 December, what steps he is taking in connection with the reform of copyright law to resolve the difficulties remaining over industrial design protection and unauthorised home taping.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherIn recent months I have discussed the question of unauthorised home taping with representatives from the British Copyright Council and from The Tape Manufacturers Group, and assured them that their respective viewpoints will be taken fully into account. I have had no similar recent discussions on industrial designs, but have been awaiting the report of the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Cabinet Office on "Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation". The report, which was published on 20 December as a consultative document, contains important proposals on the protection of industrial designs on which the Government seeks views widely. Any necessary legislative proposals will follow as quickly as possible. Proposals on all other areas of copyright will also be brought forward as soon as possible.