A new crime is being felt by small businesses around the country, a new report has discovered.  However, the small businesses themselves are said to be to blame as they are apparently not taking enough action to protect their own intellectual property.

The IPOCG (Intellectual Property Office’s Crime Group) showed that most firms realise that there is a need to protect their intellectual property, but they don’t do anything about it.

Intellectual property is anything that has originally been created by the business, for example, music, writing, inventions and art work, etc…

Giles York, deputy chief constable and chair of the IPOCG, claimed that most businesses don’t even know that they are running the risk that they are.  “Companies are aware of their duty to abide by other laws while at work, for example health and safety. We need to raise concern to approach IP law with the same stringency,” he said.

The report, commissioned by the IPO, showed that 40 per cent of businesses questioned didn’t take the necessary action to protect their intellectual property. A further third of businesses did not know whether products that were being sold on their properties were being sold legally.

Even those that were aware that counterfeit DVDs were being sold on their property, a fifth of businesses questioned, were aware of the goings on but didn’t want to do anything about it.

Ed Quilty, IPO director of copyright and IP enforcement, attempted to underline the importance of the businesses intellectual property, saying, “Intellectual property is central to the UK economy and therefore businesses of all sizes cannot afford to be complacent in respecting its value.

“Ensuring effective measures are in place to prevent workplace IP crime are an important part of this.  I am pleased that the IP Crime Group will take a leading role in highlighting this problem as part of their work.”

York went on to say that businesses were ignorant to the situation, claiming, “It is clear from this survey that many directors and managers are unaware of the damaging effect IP theft can have on their companies and themselves personally.”

Minister of State for Intellectual Property and Higher Education, David Lammy, declared that the current copyright laws needed stricter guidelines if it were to protect those in a position of injustice.

“I recognise that the UK copyright system needs to support our creative industries and all those involved in ensuring our future economic prosperity and competitiveness,” Lammy said.

“In particular, we must recognise the work of our talented musicians and performers who should reap the rewards of their hard work throughout their lifetime. I am working with colleagues to continue discussions with our European partners,” Lammy went on to say.

“Our UK copyright system does not exist in a vacuum. International and European rules set the boundaries of copyright and our work here will shape our priorities for domestic, European and international progress,” he reiterated.  Hopefully the coming months will see a dramatic change.

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