The Federation Against Software Theft (published 16/10/2008)
The Federation against software theft believes that the recent US legislation into intelligent property protection is a model which other countries could follow
The US President has signed into law a bill to increase intellectual property (IP) protection of software, films and music by raising penalties for infringement and creating a national 'IP Czar' to coordinate the Government’s position.
John Lovelock, Chief Executive of FAST IiS comments: “The UK IP legal process is not perfect but is improving. With the cooperation and commitment of Government, the Civil Service and the IP industry, we can address the issues businesses have in respecting and managing the use of intellectual property.
“For the UK to continue to prosper and profit from its outstanding creativity, it also requires Government to sponsor and support the education message of respect for IP for everyone from age eight to 80. Whether in school, university or commerce, IP has to be valued by everyone.”
FAST IiS and the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) have both conducted recent independent, separate research into Intellectual Property misuse in the workplace. The focus was on behaviour, attitudes and issues surrounding intellectual property including software licensing in business. It has shown the lack of understanding by businesses of their duties in controlling their employees, mixed guidance and advice to them from industry and the very low risk of punishment from being caught all of which contribute to the unsatisfactory position of IP misuse in the UK today.
Lovelock concludes: “We want to lower the misuse of software in UK organisations from around 26 per cent, where it has stubbornly hovered for the last five years to a figure that gives full return to IP rights holders whilst allowing consumers to benefit from excellent software, music and movies. All intellectual property requires skill, time and resources to create and without sufficient return on this investment the creators will not be able to invest, employees will lose jobs, tax revenues will decrease and we all lose out”.
