Balance
The 4 recommendations relating to the balance of the IP system and the implementation timeline.
| Recommendation | Implementation timeline |
|---|---|
| Recommendation 1: Amend section 60(5) of the Patents Act 1977 to clarify the research exception to facilitate experimentation, innovation and education. | Informal consultation launched on 7 July 2008, closes 7 November 2008 |
| Recommendation 2: Enable educational provisions to cover distance learning and interactive whiteboards by 2008 by amending sections 35 and 36 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 (CDPA). | First Consultation closed on 8 April 2008. Next stage being scoped with intention to begin second stage of the consultation later this year. |
| Recommendation 3: The European Commission should retain the length of protection on sound recordings and performers’ rights at 50 years. | Recommendation is to the European Commission, which published a draft Directive to increase the term of protection for sound recordings and performer’s rights on 16 July 2008. |
| Recommendation 4: Policy makers should adopt the principle that the term and scope of protection for IP rights should not be altered retrospectively. | Noted |
