Policy Areas
Publications & reports
Intellectual property in a digital age.
"Intellectual property rights are always a negotiation between the interests of producers, consumers and the public at large. This report successfully dismantles the illusion that Britain’s economic interest is always best served by stronger intellectual property rights. Some of the most important innovation of recent years has happened without the protection of property rights, while in other fields they have been vital. This report [should] help UK policymakers move to a more sophisticated position that recognises that a much wider spectrum of legal and ownership options are needed in economies that are increasingly founded on knowledge and creativity.” Geoff Mulgan, Director, the Young Foundation
Copyright on the ground
This paper sets out the tasks that lie ahead of policy makers charged with balancing the public benefits that can arise from the widespread circulation of a copyright work with the need to provide protection, incentive and reward to the owner of the copyright.
This paper calls for a re-orientation of innovation and information policy. In our current paradigm, monopoly rights, in the form of intellectual property, displace all else from our thinking on this subject making access a peripheral issue. According to Pollock, it is high time we restored the balance, in particular by taking proper account of the public domain and open approaches to knowledge production.
The intellectual property review and economic competitiveness
In this paper, Lord Sainsbury calls for a more sophisticated debate about intellectual property (IP) that recognises the complexity of the system. He argues that it is not the Government’s job to dictate to creators how to exploit the protection they have, but to ensure that they have the opportunity to do so in a way that helps and encourages them to continue to be innovative.
Preservation, Access and Intellectual Property Rights Challenges for Libraries in the Digital EnvironmentThis paper points the way towards a common set of rights or principles to equip libraries with the tools they require to operate effectively and legally in digital environments.
This paper weaves together theoretical economic justifications for IP with empirical evidence for its significance in our economy today.
This paper looks at some of the politics and economics surrounding online information. It asks why this area become so bitterly contested, especially around intellectual property, and explores the dilemmas this creates for policy-makers.
A manifesto for a digital Britain
This report outlines a policy agenda structures around the three strands of 'modernising', delineating' and 'recognising', and argues that these priorities can provide new purpose tp the way in which Britain modernises its public institutions and economy.
The contributions in this book present a positive debate about the potential for public service communication to thrive and take on new functions in the digital environment, rather than a negative debate about protecting the priveleges that PSBs have come to enjoy. The preface is by Mark Thompson, Channel 4
This book looks at new evidence of the scale and practice of current e-democracy in Local Authorities in England and Wales. It presents some Good Practice Guidelines and a new strategic rationale for local and national government to take e-democracy policy more seriously.
Privacy, journalism and the media after the Human Rights Act
Six experts in media policy and law give contributions on different legal and regulatory aspects of privacy after the introduction of the Human Rights Act.
Progressive politics in the digital age
Code Red is the first paper from the digital society programme, setting out their agenda on public policies directed at the e-agenda.
Impartial broadcasting in the digital age
This report examines the utility of current impartiality regulation in broadcast news and how best 'due impartiality' can be applied to the digital future.
Public policy for the 21st century
Policy recommendations for UK media and telecommunications in the age of convergence.
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