Collection

Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Bill

A collection of documents related to the Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Act 2017.

• From: Intellectual Property Office
• Published: 19 May 2016
• Last updated: 15 June 2016 — See all updates

The Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Act received Royal Assent on 27 April 2017.

The aim of the Act is to make life easier for businesses and entrepreneurs. It does this by

• clarifying the type of communications which are permitted between parties involved in a dispute over IP infringement
• preventing the misuse of threats to intimidate or gain an unfair advantage in circumstances where no infringement of an IP right has actually occurred
• providing a clear framework within which businesses and their professional advisors can operate to resolve disputes, including attempting to negotiate a settlement before turning to litigation

Background

In 2012 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) asked the Law Commission to review the existing threats provisions within patent, trade mark and design law. The Law Commission, reforming the Law on Patents, Trade Marks and Designs: Unjustified Threats published a Groundless Threats Consultation Paper 442, KB in 2013 and responses showed strong support for retaining protection against unjustified threats and overall support for reform of the existing law.

The consultation exercise was followed by a Law Commission Groundless threats report (922, KB) in April 2014 which summarised the responses received and made 18 recommendations for reform. The government responded on 26 February 2015, accepting the recommendations (in a few cases with some qualifications), and tasked the Law Commission with drafting a bill. This was published along with the Law Commission Unjustified threats final report 916, KB on 12 October 2015. The government then conducted a Unjustified threats on intellectual property rights public consultation on the draft bill during late 2015, and published its Unjustified threats on intellectual property rights responses to that consultation on 28 January 2016.

The Bill was introduced into the House of Lords on 19 May 2016, and followed the special Parliamentary procedure for Bills which implement Law Commission recommendations. Debates on all stages of the Act’s passage, and related documents, can be found on the Act’s Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Act 2017 Parliament page.

Entry into force

The Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Act 2017 was given Royal Assent on 27 April 2017. It is now an Act of law. A Commencement Order is required to be made for the Act’s measures to be brought into force. New laws which affect business are typically commenced on a Common Commencement Date (CCD). The next CCD is 1 October 2017.

Announcements

• Baroness Neville-Rolfe introduces the IP (Unjustified Threats) Bill
  • 19 May 2016
  • Press release

Guidance

A collection of documents related to the Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Bill.

• IP (Unjustified Threats) Bill: guidance
  • 2 March 2017
  • Policy paper

Impact assessment

• IP (Unjustified Threats) Bill: Impact Assessment
  • 19 May 2016
  • Impact assessment

Memorandums

• IP (Unjustified Threats) Bill: Delegated Powers Memorandum
  • 19 May 2016
  • Policy paper

Related consultations

• Unjustified threats on intellectual property rights
  • 28 January 2016
  • Consultation outcome

Published 19 May 2016
Last updated 15 June 2016 + show all updates

1. 15 June 2016

   Guidance document added.

2. 19 May 2016

   First published.