Parliamentary copyright images are reproduced with the permission of Parliament

In the fifth part of a series on the Intellectual Property Bill, IPCopy summarises the proposals relating to the Freedom of Information Act plus some other remaining odds & sods that haven’t been covered in the earlier posts. [Note: this post looks at the IP Bill as originally published. We will revisit the IP Bill at a later date to look at amendments introduced in its passage through Parliament.]

Freedom of Information

Clause 19 of the Intellectual Property Bill introduces an exception under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to pre-publication research information. Where information has been obtained in the course of a programme of research (or derived from such a programme) it is made exempt information if the programme is continuing with a view to the publication, by a public authority or any other person, of a report of the research and disclosure of the information before the date of publication “would, or would be likely to, prejudice the programme, the interests of any individual participating in the programme, the interests of the authority which holds the information, or the interests of another authority.

Odds & Sods

Clause 20 of the Bill introduces a requirement for the Secretary of State to report annually to Parliament on the activities of the Intellectual Property Office and how they’ve contronbuted to economic growth and the promotion of innovation.

Clause 21 relates to the recognition of foreign copyright works and performances and simplifies the process for protecting such copyrighted works. It will, according to the IPO, “result in clearer information for users, and the UK will be able to comply more quickly with our obligations in the future as more countries sign up to the relevant treaties.”

As the Bill moves through Parliament we will provide updates on the progress of the Bill and any amendments made.

Mark Richardson   17 July 2013