Intellectual Property Act 2014

21 Reporting duty

(1) The Secretary of State must, before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the end of each financial year, lay before Parliament a report setting out—

(a) the Secretary of State’s opinion of the extent to which during that year—

(i) the activities of the Patent Office have contributed to the promotion of innovation and of economic growth in the United Kingdom, and

(ii) legislation relating to intellectual property has been effective in facilitating innovation and economic growth in the United Kingdom, and

(b) how the promotion of innovation and of economic growth in the United Kingdom was taken into account in the case of any legislation relating to intellectual property that was passed or made during that year.

(2) The reference to the activities of the Patent Office is a reference to—

(a) the activities of the comptroller-general of patents, designs and trade marks, and

(b) the activities of the officers and clerks of the Patent Office.

(3) The references to legislation relating to intellectual property do not include a reference to legislation relating to plant breeders’ rights or rights under section 7 of the Plant Varieties Act 1997.

(4) “Financial year” means a period of 12 months ending with 31 March.

(5) “Legislation” includes—

(a) subordinate legislation within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978, and

(b) legislation of the European Union.