Patent Infringements (Hansard, 21 January 2004)

§ Lord Sainsbury of Turville

The Government have no evidence to suggest that the problem is increasing, but we are taking a number of steps to try to help people enforce their intellectual property rights.

We are working with the courts to bear down on the costs of litigation, and the Patents County Court in particular has a streamlined procedure which enables patent rights holders to take speedy action against infringers. The courts are also encouraging parties to use alternative methods of resolving disputes.

The Patent Office is presently investigating the feasibility of setting up a body which could assist businesses whose patent rights are infringed by taking action on their behalf. More generally, I have recently received advice from the Intellectual Property Advisory Committee. It has completed a study of this problem and made a number of recommendations which I am considering. Its report can be viewed at: http://www.intellectual-property.gov.uk/ipac/pdf/enforce.pdf.