Patent litigation in the United Kingdom: solutions in search of a problem?

Discusses proposals to reform the procedure of the Patents County Court to reduce the costs of patent enforcement for small and medium-sized enterprises and compares practice in other major patent jurisdictions. Looks at "Civil Litigation Costs Review: Preliminary Report" 2009, by Lord Justice Jackson, and recommendations by the Court Users Committee and Justice Arnold. Compares the efficiency of patent litigation in Germany, Japan, Australia and the United States. Considers the role of the UK Intellectual Property Office in the patent system.