Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Penalty Fair, the Intellectual Property Office study of criminal sanctions for copyright infringement available under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, what plans his Department has to strengthen the penalties for online copyright infringement.

This Government is committed to tackling intellectual property crime and is carefully considering the findings and recommendations of ‘Penalty Fair’, the independent review on criminal sanctions for copyright infringement.

Appropriate next steps may include a public consultation, as recommended in the review, giving rights holders, members of the public and all copyright and internet interest groups the opportunity to provide their views. The implementation of any change would need careful consideration to understand its potential impact.