The UK is one of the best jurisdictions in the world in which to enforce patents, trade marks and copyrights, research by City firm Taylor Wessing revealed last week.


The firm's Global Intellectual Property Index placed the UK in the top three jurisdictions worldwide for enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights.



The UK leads both the trade mark and patents index and sits second in the copyright index. The UK, Germany and the Netherlands are the only jurisdictions to appear in the top five in all indices.



Industry experts also suggested that weak patents can be challenged and defeated more easily in the UK than in other jurisdictions.



Morag Macdonald, a partner and co-head of the international IP group at City firm Bird & Bird, said: 'In terms of enforcement, I would probably put Germany above the UK if acting for the patentee, but if I was the defendant, I would put the UK top.'



Roland Mallinson, a partner in City firm Taylor Wessing's IP department, said: 'There was a perception that UK judges were anti-patentee... we found that the UK is a good place to fight weak patents.'



The index compared IP protection and enforcement in 22 leading economies.



James Dean