The Film Distributors’ Association (FDA) represents the interests of film distributors in the UK and Ireland. Its membership ranges from Hollywood studios to independent operators and is responsible for 99% of all films released theatrically in the territory.
October 30th, at a meeting organised by the Alliance for Intellectual Property, key sector stakeholders, artists and policymakers gathered to celebrate British IP Day. Hosted by former Minister for Intellectual Property, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, the event and the day aims to emphasise the importance of IP to the health and prosperity of both the UK’s cultural landscape and the wider national economy.
Held at the House of Commons and supported by the Design and Artists Copyrights Society (DACS) and the Performing Right Society (PRS), the meeting concentrated on concerns and opportunities for IP-rich industries in the promotion and protection of IP rights. Key focus included IP’s contribution to economic growth and increased exports, as well as the protection of IP in an increasingly AI occupied and digital driven world.
The event’s keynote speech was delivered by Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Chair, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, in which she spoke of to the UK’s burgeoning creative industries:
‘The UK has one of the best IP regimes in the world. The creative industries have completely outstripped the growth of every other sector. They’re worth more than £100bn to our economy. They are worth more than the aerospace, life sciences and automotive industries put together and they’re growing at 5x the rate of the economy.’
The meeting was followed by a Parliamentary reception hosted by Pete Wishart MP, at which the Minister responsible for Intellectual Property, Feryal Clark, gave a speech highlighting the importance of IP to economic development:
‘UK businesses invest more than £185bn a year in knowledge assets, over half of which is protected by IP rights. Highly innovative industries now account for around a quarter of the UK’s economic output. And we know that UK researchers who protect IP frequently go on to commercialise their IP through spinouts, licensing deals, and private sector collaboration. All the industries at the heart of our new Industrial Strategy have one big thing in common: knowledge assets, including IP, are the golden thread connecting them. So, I’m proud to say that the government recognises all IP-rich businesses as having a central role in our mission to kickstart economic growth.”
In addition, Minister of State for DCMS and DSIT, Sir Chris Bryant MP, spoke of the importance of artists:
“Our goal is a future where creators can fully exercise their rights, monetise their work, and make a sustainable living. We are committed to ensuring that creators are as well-compensated as any other profession.”
The Alliance for Intellectual Property is a unique coalition of 23 organisations representing IP-rich businesses and creators. Its members include representatives of the publishing, image, art, design, retailing, audiovisual, music, toy and games, business software, branded manufactured goods and sport rights sectors. They share a collective interest in ensuring that IP rights are valued in the UK and across the globe, and that a strong legislative and regulatory regime exists to protect them.
Further information on the event and British IP Day can be found in the Alliance for Intellectual Property press release.