Journalism Professor To Lead UK Review Of IP & Growth

Professor Ian Hargreaves of Cardiff University in Wales will lead an independent review of the intellectual property system’s promotion of growth and innovation launched by the United Kingdom’s Intellectual Property Office on 4 November.

The terms of reference for the position are available here [pdf].

Hargreaves is chair of digital economy, jointly based at the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies and at the Cardiff Business School, a position created in October. He also teaches in the post-graduate programme in journalism.

In the past, he held senior positions at the BBC, Financial Times, The Independent, and New Statesman, an 11 November press release said. He was also seconded part-time for a review of creative industries in Wales for the Welsh Assembly Government in 2009, a press release said.

The review will explore barriers to internet-based business models, including transaction costs associated with intellectual property rights; the cost and complexity of enforcing IP rights within the UK, and the ability of small and medium-sized businesses to exploit IP; and the interaction between IP and competition law.

The review is intended to take six months and is expected to report in April 2011.