machine-envy

With thanks to David Berry on the FC-UK list, here’s the government’s response to the Gowers Review in the Pre Budget Report:

“3.81 The Government welcomes the Gowers Review and will take forward those recommendations for which it is responsible. The Government firmly believes in the need for strong enforcement of IP rights to support the UK’s creative industries. The Government is therefore today endorsing the full Gowers enforcement package to tackle piracy and other IP infringement and is providing Trading Standards with an additional £5 million in 2007-08 in order to support the implementation of their new powers to tackle copyright infringement. To ensure that IP policy is strategically formulated in the future, the Government also supports the creation of an independent Strategic Advisory Board for IP policy. This Board will receive £500,000 from the Patent Office to commission research on emerging IP trends. The Government notes the recommendation to the European Commission on copyright term.”

Full Pre Budget Report here.