[A2k] New UNESCO study on 'Casting Treaty and FoE

[Mary Smith]

The London-based Creative Economy Forum has called for a new body, the
Office of Intellectual Property (OfIP), to replace the Patent Office.

The body should be set up by statute and modelled on industry regulators
such as OfCom.  Its task would be to ensure intellectual property laws serv=
e
the public interest by encouraging more creativity and innovation.  It woul=
d
follow the principles of the RSA Adelphi Charter on Creativity, Innovation
and Intellectual Property.

=B3There is an urgent need for a new body to provide government with
independent, expert, policy-oriented research,=B2 said John Howkins, Direct=
or
of the Creative Economy Forum

=B3We propose the government restructure the Patent Office as a statutory b=
ody
with explicit public interest responsibilities. It would function as a
regulatory body.  One model is Ofcom, which regulates the communications
industries according to the public interest and fair competition.  The new
Office of Intellectual Property (OfIP) would take on all the Patent Office=
=B9s
existing powers and responsibilities but operate within a policy framework
shaped by the public interest.  Government would have to account for the
public interest instead of a narrow business focus as now.

In essence, the new body would have wider responsibilities, which might
worry some people, but it would be much more accountable.

mary.smith@creativeeconomy.com