§ 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. LeighThe Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988) provides for significant criminal penalties for those 901W who make or sell unauthorised copies of audiovisual works, and makes it clear that this is also a civil offence. It is for the police themselves to determine the priority they give to the investigation of particular criminal offences. It is open to copyright owners to take civil action to enforce their rights. The Patent Office is active in the creation of awareness of the existence of rights subsisting in these works by widespread dissemination of promotional literature and the marketing of an audiovisual aid.