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Press Release

DTI’s intellectual property pilot praised by small business

1 February 2007

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) today welcomed the Government’s pilot to assist small businesses to protect their intellectual property.

The scheme, announced by DTI Minister Malcolm Wicks, will allow around forty small businesses to access Government advice through Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).

At present access to specialist solicitors can be prohibitively expensive for small businesses at up to £300 per hour. This advice from RDAs could enable many more small firms to protect their ideas.

Mike Cherry, FSB Financial Affairs Chairman, said:

“This pilot could go a long way towards bridging the gap that small businesses face when they have invented a new product. At present it is very costly and bureaucratic to protect that invention.

“Sixty per cent of commercial innovations come from small businesses. It is vital for the future of these firms, and the UK economy, that they protect their intellectual property and ensure that they receive their just rewards for innovative ideas.

“The FSB looks forward to assisting the DTI in arranging this pilot and to feeding in improvements so that this real benefit can be rolled out across the whole country.”



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Federation of Small Businesses

Federation of Small Businesses

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