[Linux-aus] Adelphi charter: Open source friendly charter proposed for UK IP body

[Janet Hawtin <lucychili@internode.on.net>]

An open source friendly charter:

Adelphi charter: New priorities proposed for UK IP body

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 
serve the public interest by encouraging more creativity and innovation. 
It would follow the principles of the RSA Adelphi Charter on Creativity, 
Innovation and Intellectual Property.

There is an urgent need for a new body to provide government with 
independent, expert, policy-oriented research, said John Howkins, 
Director of the Creative Economy Forum.

We propose the government restructure the Patent Office as a statutory 
body 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's 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

RSA Adelphi Charter on Creativity, Innovation and Intellectual Property. 
http://www.adelphicharter.org/adelphi_charter_document.asp