Andrew Gowers, former editor of the Financial Times, is heading a government review of intellectual property rights in the UK for Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Gowers has been asked to consider whether the current law is suitable for the digital age.

The Labour Party 2005 election manifesto stated the party would “modernise copyright and other forms of intellectual property so that they are appropriate for the digital age,” if it won the election.

A spokesperson for the Chancellor said: “Mr Gowers is seeking consultation from stakeholders with an interest in the subject.”

The government believes the current system of UK intellectual property “strikes broadly the right balance between consumers and rights holders.” But the review will analyse closely whether it can be improved.

Gowers will be looking at how the government administers the awarding of intellectual property, whether copyright laws are too complex and expensive for businesses to navigate, whether intellectual property technically and legally works in the digital environment, and whether the current terms of protection for sound recordings are appropriate.

Copyright has been a hot topic of late, in light of moves by Google to digitise library collections ( click here for more news ) and legal action against it ( click here for more news ).