UK IP minister moves on but questions remain over AI comments

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

UK IP minister moves on but questions remain over AI comments

GeorgeFreeman.jpg

George Freeman claimed he had left office when now-binned AI proposals were first made, despite his resignation actually coming more than a week later

UK intellectual property minister George Freeman has been moved to a newly created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, it was confirmed today, February 7, amid confusion over comments he made in Parliament last week.

The new department is expected to cover IP, though the exact nature of the brief had not been confirmed at the time of publication. Michelle Donelan will head the department as secretary of state while Freeman will continue in a junior ministerial position.

Meanwhile, Freeman has failed to clarify remarks he made in parliament on Wednesday, February 1, when the government announced it would not be pursuing part of the UKIPO’s artificial intelligence proposals.

Freeman claimed he was not in office when the now-dropped policy for a copyright exemption for text and data mining (TDM) purposes was published.

The Mid Norfolk member of Parliament was minister for IP until his resignation from Boris Johnson’s government on July 7 2022. But the UKIPO actually first published its TDM proposals more than a week earlier on June 28.

Freeman, who was subsequently reinstated as IP minister in October, told the House of Commons last Wednesday that the policy would not go ahead due to strong opposition from the creative industries.

He also appeared to criticise the process that led to the proposal being put forward.

“I hasten to say that they were published after I left government, and it was a period of some turmoil. One of the lessons from this is to try not to legislate in periods of political turmoil,” he added.

Managing IP contacted both Freeman’s parliamentary office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for clarification on the remarks but has yet to receive a response.

Freeman was a minister at BEIS until the cabinet reshuffle this morning.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Microsoft allegedly uses the HEVC technology in a range of products and offers an extension as an add-on
A group of five lawyers who joined Cleary Gottlieb say they want to help expand the firm’s IP litigation practice
As we build up to another busy year for the IP STARS rankings and our Managing IP Awards, we assess some of the major IP firms and trends in Germany
Florina Firaru discusses making new connections, the art of flower arranging, and the biggest misconception about IP
The firm, which appointed three IP partners from A&O Shearman, wants to develop a tier one practice in Europe
The England and Wales appeals court handed down its judgment just seven working days after hearing the trademark dispute involving pharma company Merck
A host of law firms from across Europe and beyond helped bring the streaming technology dispute to a close
Hugues Derème, director general of the Benelux IP Office, unveils his vision for the region, how to improve IP awareness, and use of AI
A copyright win for AI firm Anthropic and a new executive order against law firm Jenner & Block were also among the top talking points this week
A principal at Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner explains how AI tools, including DeepIP, can position the firm to help clients
Gift this article