§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what intellectual property rights protection is available for companies applying for his Department's funding for research programmes.
§ Mr. LeighApplicants for assistance under Department of Trade and Industry programmes are expected to take appropriate steps to protect intellectual property rights arising from the assisted work. The costs of such protection are not normally supported because they form part of the commercial exploitation phase which follows the Government-assisted research phase. However, the particular difficulties facing small independent firms are recognised by allowing necessary patent costs to be assisted.