Copyright Law Needs To Catch Up With 21st Century

12.00.00am GMT Tue 10th Feb 2004

In an Adjournment debate today, Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington will be highlighting a constituent's claim of copyright theft. Mr Brake's debate on 'Government policy on media intellectual property rights' will centre on Wallington resident Alan Brunwin's allegation that his idea for a children's cartoon show has been used without his agreement by a television production company. The television production company denies Mr Brunwin's claims.

Mr Brake will say: "Copyright law needs to catch up with the 21st century."

"A lot of business is about ideas rather than concrete designs and new inventions. In order to promote potential UK creative talent, we must safeguard and enforce intellectual property rights."

"This debate will also draw attention to tackling the counterfeiting and piracy which cripples our music, software and film industries. Widespread and separate breaches of copyright highlight the need for a wider detailed review of copyright and intellectual property laws at an international level."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Mr Brunwin, an ex-bus driver, claims he sent his idea for Hoppy the Hopper Bus to nearly 40 TV companies several years ago but they all turned him down. Now he claims one of them has copied Hoppy and turned him into a TV series under a different name. 2. British industry loses over £10 billion a year through counterfeiting and piracy (a subsequent loss to the Treasury in unpaid VAT of £1.75 billion) and is a criminal activity with proven links to organised crime.

Mr Brake will also seek answers from Stephen Timms MP, the DTI Minister responding, on elements of the UK Government's negotiations over the draft of the European Copyright Enforcement Directive which could leave UK businesses exposed. Mr Brake has been approached by the Alliance against Counterfeiting and Piracy, which have raised concerns over the potential negative impact that European Copyright Enforcement Directive could have on UK industries' ability to protect its intellectual property. The concerns of the Alliance against Counterfeiting and Piracy centre on:-

• Proposals which would hamper the ability for UK businesses to take appropriate action against intermediaries found to be infringing intellectual property rights.

• Proposals for intermediaries to be entitled to claim for compensation given that this is already permitted under Civil Procedure Rules.

• The proposal to eliminate a rights holder 's ability to seek double damages from an infringer. This would perversely enable a potential infringer to calculate damages as part of a business model.