Remarkable legal support for UK inventors

So I’ll remark upon it.

It has been decided to remove from the scope of legal aid various categories such as civil contract law. The 1999 Access to Justice Act [sic] removes entitlement of state funding for certain categories of civil cases.

The result? A decline in the number of people being represented (39%), and a decline of the number of people receiving legal help (45%).

Similarly, the Civil Funding Code 2000 removed representation from the scope of legal aid in many “general contract” cases. This has also resulted in a decline of legal aid. A reduction of over 90% spend since 2000-1.

Hmm…I wonder how this affects independent inventors? Does it mean crooks can steal inventions and get away with it? Does it mean only the rich have access to the law? Does it encourage IP theft?

Funny how this hasn’t been reported in the national press, eh?

Well, apart from:

A not very happy new year for freedom and the rule of law - Marcel Berlins Monday January 2, 2006

"The other big scandal of the year will be the further inability of people with valid legal problems and justified grievances to get access to justice."

Sources: A Fairer Deal for Legal Aid (PDF) and The Guardian