The Intellectual Property Bill completed third reading, the final chance to check and 'tidy up' the bill, in the Lords yesterday (Tuesday 30 July).
The bill has completed its passage through the Lords. It now moves to the House of Commons for its consideration. No date is yet scheduled.
Intellectual Property Bill report stage: Tuesday 23 July
Members of the Lords began by discussing an amendment that opposed the introduction of penalties for unauthorised copying of registered designs, with those who proposed the amendment arguing the offence may inadvertently capture innocent infringement. The amendment went to a vote with 153 voting for and 233 against, so the change was not made.
Peers also discussed the recognition of foreign copyright works and the creation of ‘lookalike’ designs and packaging.
Intellectual Property Bill grand committee stage
The Intellectual Property Bill spent three days in grand committee in the Moses Room. The process is almost identical to committee stage taken in the chamber as members carry out a detailed line by line examination of the separate parts (clauses and schedules) of a bill.
Starting from the front of the bill, members work through to the end. Any member of the Lords can take part. The single exception is that votes do not take place in a grand committee. Any issues requiring a vote must be resolved when the bill returns to the main chamber for report stage.
11 June (day one):
13 June (day two):
18 June (day three):
Intellectual property bill second reading: Wednesday 22 May
Three main aims of the bill were identified, firstly to simplify and improve design and patent protection, secondly to clarify the intellectual property (IP) legal framework and thirdly to ensure that the international IP system supports UK business. One of the key areas of debate was how a new intellectual property framework could contribute to UK economic growth.
Concerns were raised over whether the bill does enough to deal with IP problems, which it was felt go deeper than the measures outlined in the bill. The government were also asked whether planned penalties for copying a registered design (up to 10 years’ imprisonment) were appropriate.
Intellectual Property Bill summary
The bill makes changes to the law around intellectual property rights, including design, patents, freedom of information and recognition of foreign copyright.
Further information
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