Businesses 'not protecting intellectual property'

Many businesses are failing to protect themselves and their intellectual property (IP), according to new Government research.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) described the attitude of many businesses as "complacent", after finding that - despite many being aware of the importance of guarding against IP crime - they are not responding to the threat.

Intellectual property is a branch of law which covers any original creation - such as music, artistic work, inventions, images or names - that can be bought or sold.

In research commissioned by the IPO, 40% of businesses surveyed failed to take practical action to protect IP belonging to themselves and to staff.

A third of businesses did not know whether products being sold on their premises by external traders were legal. A fifth of those who knew that employees were selling DVDs at work were aware that they were counterfeit, yet took no action to prevent this.

Almost 30% of managers said they would not stop employees from buying counterfeit goods at work because it was not their responsibility.

IPO director of copyright and IP enforcement Ed Quilty said: "Intellectual property is central to the UK economy and therefore businesses of all sizes cannot afford to be complacent in respecting its value.

"Ensuring effective measures are in place to prevent workplace IP crime are an important part of this."

IMAGE Aaron Harris/AP/PA Photos