The ease with which individuals can download music, photos, films and literature has blurred the lines between ‘borrowing’ and ‘theft’. Therefore, “protecting and promoting innovation has never been more important for firms big and small, at home and abroad,” said Malcolm Wicks, Science and Innovation Minister.

Small businesses up and down the UK are being encouraged to use a new IP auditing service being piloted from March by the Patent Office in collaboration with four Regional Development Agencies.

The pilot form part of a new innovation support strategy to help UK businesses recognise, protect and maximise the value of their Intellectual Property assets to compete in the global economy.

In December 2005, the Chancellor of the Exchequer asked Andrew Gowers to conduct an independent review into the UK Intellectual Property Framework and after a year in the making, this strategy implements the first of these recommendations.