Intellectual Property Bill [HL]

The Intellectual Property Bill [HL] (Bill 102 of session 2013-14) was introduced into the House of Lords on 9 May 2013, where it received Second Reading on 22 May. It completed its parliamentary stages in the upper house on 30 July and was passed to the Commons, where it received First Reading on 29 August. This Research Paper has been produced to inform the Second Reading debate in the Commons, which is scheduled for 9 December 2013.

The Bill would simplify and clarify design protection and ownership, with the aim of supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. It would introduce new criminal penalties for copying of UK registered designs, facilitate the UK’s joining the international Hague Agreement, and provide for a new design opinions service. It would also allow for the creation of a Unified Patent Court and the international sharing of information on patents. In addition, there is provision for a research exemption from freedom of information law and for greater accountability on the part of the Intellectual Property Office.