Written evidence submitted by Derek Thompson

I am writing to express my deep concern at proposals to erode the rights of creative professionals.

The UK has a proud tradition of innovation and creativity, but the proposals will undermine the right of creators to protect their work and put us as a disadvantage in comparison to other parts of the world.

As a freelance writer, I encounter many clients who see writing as something that anyone can do and which consequently is of little economic worth. Your proposal does little to address this issue. In addition, I have personal experience of my online work being appropriated by someone else and the onus being on me to prove ownership and seek redress. That time it was my entire blog; next time it could be a novel or a work of non-fiction.

My other concerns are about the way this Intellectual Property Review has been approached. From the information provided, none of the panel have specific experience or relevance in the Arts field. Also, this review has not been widely promoted and the timescale is very constrained.

5 September 2011