NEW IP MINISTER

Well, sort of. Last Friday (10 November), Lord Sainsbury announced his retirement as DTI Minister for Science and Innovation – a brief that includes responsibility for the Patent Office. In his place (with immediate effect it seems) comes Malcolm Wicks MP, formerly the Energy Minister. Mr Wicks is (the IPKat is glad to see) a former university lecturer, but before becoming an MP in 1992, he was Director of the Family Policy Studies Centre.

Out with the old (left) and in with the new (right) at the DTI

The IPKat wishes Mr Wicks well in his new post – he's going to have to hit the ground running, seeing as the Gowers Review is due out in the not too distant future.