The price of freedom
On 1 May 1707, the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of
England, combined to form a single political union, which
eventually formed the United Kingdom (UK)
comprising four separate but intertwined countries, namely England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Now the residents of Scotland
are being asked whether the country they live in should be truly
independent from the rest of the United Kingdom. A "yes"
vote could result in a headache for businesses wanting IP rights in
the new Scotland.
The administration of IP rights in the UK
If Scotland votes to leave the UK, IP owners with rights in
Scotland will be fundamentally affected, whether they are nationals
of Scotland, or "foreign" companies contributing to the
Scottish economy. Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond tells
us that intellectual property will continue to be protected,
although the details of how it will be protected has not yet been
developed, and will not be unless
