Penalties for online infringements of intellectual property (IP) must match those for physical infringement, the Alliance for Intellectual Property has said.
The group, an umbrella organisation of UK trade associations and enforcement bodies, is also calling for better protection of IP rights online, both in regard to piracy and the sale of counterfeit goods.
“The ease with which people are able to legally access content with no remuneration to, or permissions from, either creators or rights-holders is inflicting significant damage on numerous sectors, affecting their ability to reinvest in new talent and innovative ideas,” a spokesperson said.
“Ultimately it is customers who suffer through a reduction of choice, a reduction in spend on innovation and the possibility of being sold shoddy or dangerous goods.”
The campaign forms part of a wider brief by the group to not only protect and enforce rights but to create awareness of IP’s value to the UK.
Theft is proving lucrative to IP abusers, with hundreds of millions of pounds said to be lost annually. “Jobs are being lost, shops forced to close and innovation stifled,” the Alliance said.
With that in mind, the body is also calling for a reform of the process by which rights-holding victims can seek civil damages.
Matthew Johnson, a specialist in IP at Palmers, said: “The Alliance is absolutely right – IP infringement has a damaging effect on industry and therefore the economy and, sadly, it appears to be a growing problem.
“What we are seeing is a classic situation in which the internet and its reach has exacerbated an already damaging practice, making it increasingly difficult to monitor. The nature of IP infringement is changing.
“At Palmers we are passionate about protecting your hard work and ideas. For information about protecting, licensing and transferring rights, and the action that should be taken amid dispute, please contact us.”