Patents: Regulation
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a regulator in the patent market.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan
The aim of the patent system is to incentivise innovation through the grant of a temporary exclusive right to protect inventions. In exchange for the right to exclude others from making, selling or using an invention, the details of the invention are published, allowing third parties to build upon the innovation on patent expiry or develop alternative innovation. As a private right, it is for the patent holder to decide on questions of licencing, assignment and enforcement. The Government continually monitors the impacts of patents across technologies to ensure markets are functioning appropriately and would look at options to address issues if this was not the case.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →