Background to GIPI 3
The trend, identified in GIPI 1 and GIPI 2, for businesses to be spending ever increasing time on IP issues continues unabated. In each GIPI, 60% or more of the respondents to the GIPI questionnaire have said that the time their organisation spends dealing with IP issues has increased over the past three years.
The figure in GIPI 3 is 62%, up from 60% in GIPI 2. 28% say that the time spent remained about the same and only 8% spend less time on IP issues. Whilst the latter figure is up on the 6% figure for GIPI 2, it is only marginally so.
This is partly caused by the ever greater opportunities and threats posed by the growth of e-commerce. As a result, GIPI 3 takes a look at the suitability of each copyright regime to cope with new media developments and on whether IP law in general has kept up with or is behind and hindering technical advances.
Whatever the cause, we are now seeing more investment, at least of time, in the protection, exploitation and defence of IP, despite the economic downturn. Survey respondents typically cite better quality and consistency of judicial and administrative decisions, quicker turn around and less wasteful administrative 'red tape' as the key factors for giving a high GIPI score. However, clearly lower cost has taken on greater significance since GIPI 2. This is primarily expressed by respondents in terms of better value for money.
By offering a studied comparison of the various IP regimes, we wish to contribute to the process of seeking improvements where needed. The key first demand for better quality and consistency is, we believe, best met by at least a greater approximation (to borrow a European Commission phrase) of the IP laws, practices and procedures around the world. Given the feedback we have had from users of the various IP regimes and also legislators, the GIPI scores and commentary can perhaps play a role in that debate. We hope so.
Chart 1: How has the time that your organisation spends dealing with intellectual property changed over the last three years
"We are seeing more investment, at least of time, in the protection, exploitation and defence of IP, despite the economic downturn."