IRDAC opinion on intellectual property rights
IRDAC, the European Community's Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee, has published its opinion on intellectual property rights (IPR). The opinion is an in-depth analysis of all aspects of IPR issues affecting European business. IRDAC makes clear that IPR is of major importance to European industry, as a way of protecting research investment. The Committee stresses that there needs to be a modification of the attitudes and practice of European industry towards IPR, in view of the reduction of patent applications by European companies in relation to their US and Japanese competitors. IRDAC's underlines that the European patent system is of better, or equal, quality to the US and Japanese systems but recognizes that the costs need to be reduced. The Community patent system, as it stands, is not used by industry, and IRDAC suggests that a new instrument should be established. The opinion calls for greater education and training on IPR, at all levels of European industry, as well as in the relevant Commission services. IRDAC also calls on the Commission to involve industry fully in international negotiations on IPR, and to propose new instruments for a Community patent system.