UNDERSTANDING NEEDS

The IP crime Group

Title of case:

Co-ordination of IPR Enforcement through the UK

IP Crime Group

Organisation:

The IP Crime Group: a multi agency coalition of government policy makers, public enforcement bodies and private industry experts. The Group was conceived and is facilitated by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO)

IPR Expert Group Recommendations:

It is necessary to establish Co-ordination Offices for IPR issues and enforcement, both at a European and at national levels;

Where not currently in place, a common Intellectual Property service has to be developed

Areas that the case illustrates

Strategic co-ordination
Comprehensive approach to all forms of IPR
Enforcement strategy
Intelligence gathering
Effective liaison with police, customs and industry investigative bodies

The UK IPO’s services relate to:

Patents
Trademarks
Designs
Copyright

Brief description:

The UK Government has promoted co-ordinated enforcement support for all forms of IPR (except patents) and has developed an enforcement strategy that brings together all the relevant agencies through the IP Crime Group. The IPCG is structured around specific Expert Groups who carry out agreed work and implement the strategy. Above these a Tasking and Coordinating Group is the key decision making assembly.

Full description

In 2004, the UK Government decided on a major reform of its provision for intellectual property as part of a reappraisal of the significance of IPR within economic policy and especially for the promotion of innovation and growth in a modern economy.

As a result, there were a number of structural changes – new organisations were created and the former Patent Office (now UKIPO) was given a wider remit and orientation aimed at improving the protection of intellectual property.

Central to the new approach, as far as enforcement of IPRs are concerned, was the establishment of the National IP Crime Group, which brings together in regular meetings the full range of policy-makers, industry stakeholders, and enforcers, including:

the Serious Organised Crime Agency
the Assets Recovery Agency
Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs
the Crown Prosecution Service
the Association of Chief Police Officers
local enforcement agencies such as trading standards organisations, and
commercial interests from brand owners to the creative industries

The aim has been to create a co-ordinated approach to IP enforcement and oversee the implementation of the National IP Crime Strategy. Important elements in this Strategy are:

establishing an accurate measurement of the level of IP crime within the United Kingdom
identifying areas of threat and specific harm to the public
building a more consistent approach to the enforcement of IP Crime
identifying sources of key knowledge and expertise
bringing together and building local, national and international partnerships and co-ordinating UK and international intelligence and action
setting priorities and focusing the allocation of resources
supporting training for enforcement officers
spreading best practice
continuing to raise consumer awareness
measuring performance and evaluating the impact

The IP Crime Team in the UKIPO provides operational support for this Strategy, developing intelligence and supporting enforcement action. The Team has developed a dedicated IT-based knowledge system, and is promoting co-ordination of the various agencies at the local, regional and national levels. Information is also passed to Interpol to support enforcers tackling serious and organised crime operating on an international scale.

This enforcement 'hub' has staff with specialised knowledge and experience, for instance in intelligence gathering, development, and financial investigations. As result, the Team's resources are in a position to help enforcement all the way through the process from the initial identification of the problem to arrest and assets recovery action.

An Annual National Enforcement Report provides a public account of progress.

The IPO also provides training for a range of officials in IPR enforcement matters and is developing a useful intermediation service between SMEs and the enforcement authorities in the police and customs services. In this sense, the IPO acts as a bridge between SMEs and the authorities, providing templates, for instance, to help SMEs present their case and, in this and other ways, helping the authorities to act upon the information provided.

A public reporting system allows enterprises and citizens to report incidents of counterfeiting and piracy by phone, e-mail, letter, or fax.

Transferability & Performance:

Evaluation and measurement of performance is built into the National IP Crime Strategy and the results presented in the Annual National Enforcement Report.

Further information:

Web site:

Contact details:

Concept House Tel: +44 1633 813930
Cardiff Road E-mail: enquiries@ipo.gov.uk
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom