TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, has responded to the call for evidence from the Independent Review of Intellectual Property (IP) and Growth being led by Professor Hargreaves.
TIGA highlighted a number of issues including independent research from NESTA in 2009 which revealed the advent of Games Tax Relief would promote the development of original IP and enable game developers to retain ownership of their IP, as well as reforms to the R&D tax credits that would enable games companies to carry out more R&D and develop more IP.
Dr. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, commented:
“TIGA is delighted the Independent IP and Growth Review is being undertaken. We are keen to see measures introduced which will help more UK developers to retain the ownership of their IP and to exploit it commercially.
“However, it is financial reforms that will help developers exploit IP and not simply changes to IP law. NESTA’s independent research rightly pointed out that it is Games Tax Relief which would encourage original IP from developers. Furthermore, expanding the existing scope of the R&D Tax Credits to include associated costs such as IP protection and design would be beneficial. We call on the Government to support the industry through introducing these measures at the forthcoming Budget.””
Jason Kingsley, TIGA Chairman and CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion, added:
“Game developers face significant costs in developing, marketing and building IP. More needs to be done to strengthen links between developers and investors to ease this challenge. Additionally, developers need to have access to affordable and effective IP legal advice if they are to exploit their IP effectively. TIGA will explore ways with its legal experts to achieve this objective.””
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Notes to editors:
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA was awarded ‘Trade Association of the Year’ and the ‘Member Recruitment Award’ at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2010. TIGA has also been named as a finalist in the 2010 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) National Management and Leadership Awards in the category of ‘The Outstanding Organisation of the Year Award (SME)’. TIGA is an Investors in People organisation.
TIGA’s vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. We focus on three sets of activities: political representation, generating media coverage and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities.
For further information, please contact Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on 07875939643: or email richard.wilson@tiga.org; or contact David Hodges on 02070911653