DACS celebrates the power of human creativity on British IP Day at parliamentary reception

UK businesses invest more than £185 billion 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.

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.

For 40 years, DACS has been in the business of protecting the intellectual property of artists and creators for three fundamental reasons: firstly, it is essential to help artists be paid for their works, secondly, because for artists to be paid for their works they need to be able to protect their work, and thirdly because without IP protection, the value of their work, and the capacity of others to contribute to the rich arts ecosystem of this country dissipates at an alarming rate. If we want the UK to remain what it is today – a global beacon for inventiveness, originality, and creativity – a strong, fair IP framework is crucial. Not just to protect the glories we already lay claim to, but to ensure that our generation, and generations that come after us, have a great story to tell.

Intellectual property rights are the bedrock of creative Britain, fueling both the economy and the imagination of those working in the sector. IP enriches our culture, and it’s vital that artists continue to recognise the incredible value of their work.