UK news

UK statements during the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Council on 6 July 2022.

The licensee will have the right to use the IP without incurring the expense and risk of undertaking research, or the cost of developing the product. An exclusive licence can also be granted, which enables the licensee to use the copyright work in the manner specified by the licence to the exclusion of all others, including the copyright owner. The terms of the licence are also between the licensee and the licensor, for example if the licence is exclusive, so the mark cannot be used by anyone else, including the registered owner, or limited to a particular geographical area. Market penetration would be increased by licensing another business to sell in territories that the owner cannot cover. In instances where a copyright owner is unknown or cannot be found, individuals or businesses may apply to the UK Intellectual Property Office for an “orphan works” licence. The main advantages of having a patent endorsed with a licence of right is that it lets other people know that the owner is willing to licence the patent. IP can be “licensed-out” or “licensed-in”. The rights owner can “license-out” to another company in return for a fee. A copyright owner may decide whether and how to license use of their work, and any licence agreed can relate to one or more of the rights granted by copyright, and can also be limited in time, geographical extent or any other way. In essence - a licence is an agreement between the IP right owner and another party. This means that the owner must grant a licence to anyone who wants one. We welcome all Members’ views and the opportunity to engage bilaterally on the matter. We also extend our gratitude to all Members for their cooperation and patience throughout the process.