Correspondence

Government response to Law Commission’s groundless threats report

Response to the Law Commission report on the law on groundless threats to bring proceedings for infringement of Intellectual Property rights.

• From: Intellectual Property Office
• Published: 26 February 2015

Documents

Government response to Law Commission’s groundless threats report

PDF, 352 KB, 5 pages

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Details

The document sets out the government’s response to the Law Commission’s report on the law relating to the making of groundless threats to bring proceedings for infringement of patents, trade marks and design rights.

The government accepts the Law Commission’s conclusion that the threats provisions should be retained but with some reforms.

The proposed reforms will help ensure the threats provisions are clearer for businesses. They will make it easier for parties to make good faith attempts to settle intellectual property infringement disputes before litigation. They will also stop legal advisers from getting tangled up in accusations of making threats when the dispute is between the parties they represent.

The UK government will take forward new measures to strengthen protection for businesses against groundless threats.

Published 26 February 2015