Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
08LONDON612 | 2008-02-27 16:08:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy London |
VZCZCXRO8832 PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV DE RUEHLO #0612/01 0581608 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 271608Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7618 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHBL/AMCONSUL BELFAST 0978 RUEHED/AMCONSUL EDINBURGH 0874 |
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 000612 |
1.(U) Summary: HMG released its strategy paper to support the UK's creative sector and move it from the margins to the mainstream of economic and policy thinking. The creative sector adds GBP 60 Billion ($120 Billion) or 7.3 percent of GDP to the British economy annually. HMG plans to foster and protect intellectual property by consulting on legislation that would require internet service providers (ISP's) to cooperate in taking action against illegal file sharing. The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) plans to put into action a plan on intellectual property (IP) enforcement and also promote better understanding of the value and importance of IP. End Summary. 2. (U) The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills have collaborated to create a vision paper for UK's creative economy titled "Creative Britain: New Talents for the New Economy." The creative sector has grown at twice the rate of the economy over the past decade. The government's challenge is to bring the creative industries into the mainstream and its vision is that Britain's biggest cities will be driven by the creative economy in ten years time. (The full report is available at http://www/culture.gov.uk. Click on publications under "quicklinks" to find it). 3. (SBU) Lisa Vango of UK-IPO told us that there is no new information on potential legislation by HMG to require ISP's and rights holders to cooperate against illegal file-sharers in the strategy paper since we last reported on the topic. She said that it emphasizes that HMG will not hesitate to legislate if no agreement is reached and will consult in 2008 with intent to implement legislation in April 2009. However, Vango said no decision has been made on what form any legislation would take and that all options are on the table. This is despite media reports that HMG is leanings towards a French-style "three strikes" policy for illegal file-sharers. The December 2006 Gowers Review of UK Intellectual Property Framework suggested that ISP's and rights-holders should reach a voluntary agreement on online illegal file-sharing. So far no agreement has been reached and in January, former Minister for Intellectual Property, Lord Triesman, announced that if no agreement is reached by the end of the summer, he would request that HMG introduce legislation on the subject in the annual Queen's speech in November. HMG prefers a voluntary or commercial agreement between ISP's and all relevant sectors. 4. (SBU) UK-IPO will implement the following changes with the goal of strengthening IP enforcement: ---Explore options for voluntary enforcement funds. The Motion Picture Association of America is already providing funding to the UK for IP enforcement and UK-IPO hopes to build on this. ---Pilot a "Fake Free London" campaign on IP enforcement. The UK Film Council plans to pilot its Fake Free London project in Spring 2008. UK-IPO hopes to use this project to cleanse London of counterfeit projects in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics. Billy Watson of the UK Film Council leads this project and told us that this was part of his long-term plan for the London Fake Free Zone, but is delighted that HMG is so publically supporting the project. ---Establish and fund a National Center of Excellence. This would be a national law enforcement center that would provide specialized knowledge and skills for IP enforcement. Vango said this is a new idea first proposed in the strategy paper. The project is in its infancy now, but UK-IPO hopes to begin planning in the next few months. ---Work with Trading Standards Officers to make best use of the Proceeds of Crimes Act. This act allows HMG to recover monies earned through criminal activities. Currently this act is generating around GBP 500,000 ($1 Million) of monthly from IP related crime-assets. ---Work with the Association of Police Officers to increase IP enforcement. ---Establish a Ministerial and Industry forum to bring together rights-holders, consumer groups, the government and technology companies to discuss new ideas, issues, and solutions to the challenges and opportunities brought forward from new technology. Vango said this is another new idea first proposed in this strategy paper. She said that technology for distributing copyrighted materials is changing so quickly that HMG needs this discussion group to ensure that new policies are relevant and useful. 5. (U) HMG will promote better understanding of the value of and importance of IP through education. HMG is considering including IP as part of normal school curriculum. In addition, they want specialist arts and music schools to promote IP with their students. UK-IPO will also work with stakeholders to create an awareness LONDON 00000612 002.2 OF 002 campaign meant to inform citizens of their rights regarding IP. In particular, they want to inform citizens of their rights regarding file-shifting (e.g transferring music from a CD to a MP3 player) for personal use. TUTTLE |