The government is failing to get its message about its attempts to protect intellectual property out to the market with most IT decision makers unaware of its strategy.

A survey carried out by the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) has revealed that two thirds of those it quizzed at the recent IP Expo had no idea what the government's current IP strategy was and 86% felt that not enough was being done to protect rights for SMEs.

The research also highlighted a demand for more punishment for those caught infringing IP and there was also a call by some, 17%, for Trading Standards to be given more powers to go after those pirating software.

The reaction from FAST was to call on the government to do more not just to protect IP but also to promote its own activities in that area.

"This research has emphasised that the government needs to better communicate its reforms to the IT industry," said Julian Heathcote-Hobbins, general counsel at FAST.

"The government has a golden opportunity to secure the UK as a world leader for fostering creative industries. However, IP law needs to be delicately balanced and is accessible, clear, and easy to apply so that rights holders can rely on it but without involving complex government intervention," he added.

(Source: www.microscope.com.uk)