Thank you for your letter dated 10 October[42] requesting detail on the selection criteria for membership, whether as leaders or associates of the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative (JTI). You also asked for clarification on the implications for intellectual property rights.

  UK companies, initially disadvantaged in the early partner selection process, are now content that a way ahead has been agreed for them to participate in the JTI. We have strengthened the European Commission in its safeguarding of public interest in the JTI, including in the selection processes, so that the JTI can operate in a more open and transparent way. This is now embodied in the Articles and Statutes for Clean Sky.

  On the issue of the implications for intellectual property rights (IPR), the JTI Articles instruct that IPR Rules are developed in line with FP7 Community Framework Rules of Participation. For Clean Sky, the Statutes provide that the entity creating the intellectual property owns it and also for joint ownership if individual contributions cannot be ascertained.

  A general approach on the four proposed JTIs for ARTEMIS, ENIAC, Innovative Medicines (IMI) and Aeronautics and Air Transport (Clean Sky) is expected at the Competitiveness Council on 22-23 November and the adoption of the European Parliament's opinion on the proposals is expected in December. A key priority for the UK is the launch of the four JTIs by early 2008.

13 November 2007