Earlier this month, Adam Williams, Deputy Director – International Policy, from the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) visited New Delhi to attend the Global Intellectual Property Convention 2016 (7-9 January). Adam was a plenary speaker in the session titled, role of innovation, technology and a strong IP ecosystem for sustainable economic growth.
Adam shared the UK’s experience in improving the intellectual property environment by increasing accessibility, focusing on quality, creating respect, and establishing a fit-for-purpose institutional framework. He mentioned a host of guidance documents developed by the UK IPO for businesses operating in the UK. For instance, a suite of business tools are available for understanding and protecting a firm’s IP assets – IP Equip, IP Health Check, IP Master Class. A detailed listing of resources available here enable UK based SMEs to maximise the value of their IP portfolio. Then, there’s the IP finance toolkit, which helps UK businesses evaluate the financial worth of their IP assets when seeking capital investment. An overview of the UK IPO’s contribution to innovation and economic growth in the UK in FY2014-15 can be accessed here.
To foster innovation within the entrepreneur community, the BBC hosts Dragons’ Den – a reality show wherein fledgling entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to potential investors. On outreach, teaching and learning resources on intellectual property are available for different age groups through an initiative developed by the UK IPO, and aptly called cracking ideas. IP Tutor, on the other hand, is an interactive learning tool for educators and students. It was interesting to note from Adam’s talk that orphan copyright works (i.e. where one or more of the right holders cannot be found) could be licensed from the UK IPO for commercial and non-commercial uses.
The UK IPO has established an international IP attaché network that works closely with UK businesses in India, China, Brazil, and South East Asia. The attaches also engage with the policymakers in host countries to explore collaboration opportunities with the UK.
A key element of the IP ecosystem in the UK is enforcement. The UK’s coordinated approach in enforcing IP rights has been widely appreciated. A case in point is the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), established by the UK IPO in 2013. PIPCU focuses on IP offences committed online and maintains an infringing website list to alert consumers and producers alike. With regard to IP litigation, UK SMEs could approach the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court to settle small scale intellectual property disputes. For instance, for a claim amount of up to £300, the court fee is just £35!
As the 3-day conference concluded, it became clear to us that the role of IP will continue to assume greater significance in India in the near future, especially in light of the Make in India campaign. The next edition of the Global Intellectual Property Convention will be held in New Delhi from 18-20 January 2017. I hope to see you there!