You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
The government is to launch a campaign to educate consumers about the harm of illegal downloading, business secretary Vince Cable has announced.
The government will also work with key partners, such as the city of London police, to tackle IP crime including online piracy.
The measures were announced at a speech at The Big Innovation Centre, and are said to involve "a step change in the way the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) delivers services".
Cable said: "Our creativity, our openness to and talent for innovation, is a key pillar of our return to robust growth. So it is right we work to create the environment in which creative, innovative businesses of all shapes and sizes flourish... A vital part of this is making sure the intellectual property landscape encourages and cements success and growth."
The national consumer campaign to ensure consumers understand the use and value of intellectual property will be launched in spring 2013. The activity will focus on young people, in schools, theme parks and on the web, to educate them about their responsibilities in downloading materials.
The UK will also host an IP enforcement summit next summer.
Other related measures include the launch of a fast patent processing service and faster trade marks examination service.