Labour pledges IP law reform, Conservatives pledge public procurement overhaul
16th April 2010
The Labour Party has said that it will further reform intellectual property law if it is returned to Government in next month's general election. The Conservative Party has said it will introduce independent oversight into the public procurement process.
The two main parties have published their election manifestos, outlining their policies on intellectual property; corporate law; data protection and freedom of information; and industrial development.
Both parties have pledged to allocate more public money to companies that conduct research and development, Labour through direct investment and the Conservatives through a R&D tax break.
Labour said an additional tax break would be available for companies that depend on patents. "We will ensure a competitive regime through the development of the patent-box – a lower rate of corporation tax to encourage UK-based innovation – supporting the UK’s strengths in new industries and sectors," it said.
In the aftermath of the passing of the controversial Digital Economy Bill, many parts of which still need Parliamentary scrutiny before they come into effect, Labour said it would further change UK law on intellectual property if it wins.
The Conservatives pledged to revolutionise the way that public money is spent in a bid to improve efficiency that could have major implications for companies engaged in publicly financed projects. The party said it would try to make the procurement process more efficient by publishing the details of deals online and introducing greater scrutiny from outside the civil service.
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