The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that collaboration between academia and industry can support innovation. As such, the Government’s Economic Security Advisory Service was launched last year to support UK business in navigating economic security challenges, including protecting their intellectual property. The Research Collaboration Advice Team (RCAT) also provides advice to research institutions on the national security risks linked to international research, helping to safeguard valuable UK research, knowledge and intellectual property from loss, misuse or exploitation. This includes where universities are engaging in industry partnerships.

The Government supports UK creators and believes they should be paid fairly for their work. Where material is used without permission, existing copyright and passing off laws may apply, and creators are therefore encouraged to seek independent legal advice. In addition, since March 2025, the Online Safety Act (OSA) requires platforms to introduce proactive measures to protect users from user-generated fraud. The OSA lists fraud as a priority offence and regulates AI-generated media in the same way as ‘real’ content.

We know this is an area of concern to many creatives and are considering whether further action is needed, including through a consultation on digital replicas and a taskforce on labelling AI-generated content - both of which will launch by the end of the year.

The Government supports UK creators and believes they should be paid fairly for their work. Where material is used without permission, existing copyright and passing off laws may apply, and creators are therefore encouraged to seek independent legal advice. In addition, since March 2025, the Online Safety Act (OSA) requires platforms to introduce proactive measures to protect users from user-generated fraud. The OSA lists fraud as a priority offence and regulates AI-generated media in the same way as ‘real’ content.

We know this is an area of concern to many creatives and are considering whether further action is needed, including through a consultation on digital replicas and a taskforce on labelling AI-generated content - both of which will launch by the end of the year.

The Government supports UK creators and believes they should be paid fairly for their work. Where material is used without permission, existing copyright and passing off laws may apply, and creators are therefore encouraged to seek independent legal advice. In addition, since March 2025, the Online Safety Act (OSA) requires platforms to introduce proactive measures to protect users from user-generated fraud. The OSA lists fraud as a priority offence and regulates AI-generated media in the same way as ‘real’ content.

We know this is an area of concern to many creatives and are considering whether further action is needed, including through a consultation on digital replicas and a taskforce on labelling AI-generated content - both of which will launch by the end of the year.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has an established policy for addressing Intellectual Property (IP), and all MOD projects are expected to set out an IP strategy to ensure that IP is adequately protected, whilst securing maximum impact for our armed forces and value for money for the taxpayer.

With regards to joint international technology development projects, several frameworks are used. The IP conditions are agreed within a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), or a subordinate arrangement thereto with another nation, governing the project.

The most common framework used for joint international technology development projects is laid out in NATO Allied Acquisition Practices Publication (AACP) – specifically AACP-1. These conditions have been pre-agreed amongst NATO members. Where more bespoke conditions are required, these are negotiated between programme participants by the MOD’s IP advisors.

Should an international technology development project be between nations which are not NATO members, the MOD will suggest AACP-1 conditions in the first instance.

Should contracts be placed in furtherance to the MoU or subordinate arrangement, the IP terms contained within these will follow the MOD’s established IP policies.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) follows robust, proportionate processes to securely process 20K annual requests to record the transfer of ownership of IP rights in the register. These processes are reviewed regularly to reflect changing risk threats. The IPO is mid-way through a major transformation programme which will further improve validation processes by introducing an authenticated user account for all transactions. The recent consultation on the UK Designs system included proposals to extend the IPO’s power to resolve disputes over ownership of patents and trade marks to registered designs where that power is currently reserved for the courts.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) follows robust, proportionate processes to securely process 20K annual requests to record the transfer of ownership of IP rights in the register. These processes are reviewed regularly to reflect changing risk threats. The IPO is mid-way through a major transformation programme which will further improve validation processes by introducing an authenticated user account for all transactions. The recent consultation on the UK Designs system included proposals to extend the IPO’s power to resolve disputes over ownership of patents and trade marks to registered designs where that power is currently reserved for the courts.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) follows robust, proportionate processes to securely process 20K annual requests to record the transfer of ownership of IP rights in the register. These processes are reviewed regularly to reflect changing risk threats. The IPO is mid-way through a major transformation programme which will further improve validation processes by introducing an authenticated user account for all transactions. The recent consultation on the UK Designs system included proposals to extend the IPO’s power to resolve disputes over ownership of patents and trade marks to registered designs where that power is currently reserved for the courts.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) follows robust, proportionate processes to securely process 20K annual requests to record the transfer of ownership of IP rights in the register. These processes are reviewed regularly to reflect changing risk threats. The IPO is mid-way through a major transformation programme which will further improve validation processes by introducing an authenticated user account for all transactions. The recent consultation on the UK Designs system included proposals to extend the IPO’s power to resolve disputes over ownership of patents and trade marks to registered designs where that power is currently reserved for the courts.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) follows robust, proportionate processes to securely process 20K annual requests to record the transfer of ownership of IP rights in the register. These processes are reviewed regularly to reflect changing risk threats. The IPO is mid-way through a major transformation programme which will further improve validation processes by introducing an authenticated user account for all transactions. The recent consultation on the UK Designs system included proposals to extend the IPO’s power to resolve disputes over ownership of patents and trade marks to registered designs where that power is currently reserved for the courts.

The UK Government recognises that intellectual property (IP) enforcement is essential to supporting growth for UK creators, rights holders and businesses operating internationally to secure returns on investment in innovation and creativity.

While no specific assessment has been made of the potential impact of improving international IP enforcement for UK creative businesses, the OECD has estimated trade in goods infringing UK IP rights was worth £12.1 billion in 2021, with associated sales, jobs and public revenue impacts.

The Intellectual Property Office supports UK businesses protecting their rights overseas by working with international partners, law enforcement and industry to strengthen IP enforcement frameworks.

Advanced Materials is a frontier sector in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

As announced in the Industrial Strategy, Government is funding the National Materials Innovation Programme, with the aim to drive translation and adoption of materials across key industrial sectors, building on previous support for R&D through the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) and the Henry Royce Institute.

The UK Intellectual Property Office supports innovators through a world-leading intellectual property framework that helps businesses protect and commercialise their IP.

The Government is committed to supporting UK businesses to grow and scale-up in the UK. The Intellectual Property Office provides support to help businesses identify, protect, manage and commercialise their intellectual property. UK Research and Innovation has committed to refresh its grant terms and conditions relating to intellectual property, with the aim of strengthening UK economic value from public investment in research and innovation and anchoring more IP exploitation in the UK. More broadly, the Government’s Small Business Plan is helping firms start, scale and succeed through targeted support and improved access to advice.

I refer the member for Bedford to the answer I gave to UIN 19611 on 3 September 2026.

Continued close collaboration with the European Union on intellectual property policy remains a priority for the government to help support wider economic growth across the whole of the UK.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and the Intellectual Property Office continues to engage with the European Union across intellectual property policy areas within their remit which includes copyright, patents, trade marks, designs and the enforcement of intellectual property rights.