Intellectual Property in the Digital Age

Professor David Gann has been appointed to the panel of the Independent Review of IP and Growth

Is an intellectual property framework created in the era of paper and pen fit for purpose in the age of broadband and satellites? Yesterday, Director of the Digital Economy Working Group, Professor David Gann, was appointed to a panel of experts advising the UK Government on what the digital transformation of business means for intellectual property and growth. 

Prime Minister, David Cameron, announced to an audience of high-tech businesses and entrepreneurs in November that there would be a review of IP laws, "to see if we can make them fit for the internet age". The Independent Review of IP and Growth is expected to report in April 2011 and will focus on:

• Barriers to new internet-based business models, including the costs of obtaining permissions from existing rights-holders;
• The cost and complexity of enforcing intellectual property rights within the UK and internationally;
• The interaction between IP and Competition frameworks;
• The cost and complexity to SMEs of accessing services to help them protect and exploit their IP

Professor Gann will be joined on the panel by Tom Loosemore, Roger Burt, Professor James Boyle and Professor Mark Schankerman. Intellectual Property Minister, Baroness Wilcox, said: 

"This review will help the government create the right conditions for businesses to grow.  It will look at barriers to growth within the intellectual property system and the improvements that could be made to support businesses. It is essential the review is guided by a strong team with varied backgrounds and I am delighted we have achieved that."