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| Kitty Perry and the copyright lessons for seven-year-olds | Kitty Perry and the copyright lessons for seven-year-olds |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| A campaign to teach children about copyright infringement on the internet, is employing cartoons and puns on pop stars' names, to get the message across. | A campaign to teach children about copyright infringement on the internet, is employing cartoons and puns on pop stars' names, to get the message across. |
| Even its makers admit it is a "dry" and "niche" subject for a cartoon aimed at seven-year-olds. | Even its makers admit it is a "dry" and "niche" subject for a cartoon aimed at seven-year-olds. |
| But the Intellectual Property Office adds learning to "respect" copyrights and trademarks is a "key life skill". | But the Intellectual Property Office adds learning to "respect" copyrights and trademarks is a "key life skill". |
| And it is hoping the adventures of Nancy and the Meerkats can finally make intellectual property "fun". | And it is hoping the adventures of Nancy and the Meerkats can finally make intellectual property "fun". |
| The series, which began life five years ago on Fun Kids Radio, was re-launched this week with the aim of getting its message into primary schools. | |
| The Intellectual Property Office - formerly known as the Patent Office - has produced a range of teaching materials for Key Stage 2 in the national curriculum, for seven- to 11-year-olds. | The Intellectual Property Office - formerly known as the Patent Office - has produced a range of teaching materials for Key Stage 2 in the national curriculum, for seven- to 11-year-olds. |
| The five-minute cartoons tell the story of would-be pop star Nancy, a French bulldog, who battles her ideas-stealing, feline nemesis, Kitty Perry, and teaches friends, including Justin Beaver and a rather dim Welsh sheep called Ed Shearling, about the importance of choosing an original band name and registering it as a trademark. | The five-minute cartoons tell the story of would-be pop star Nancy, a French bulldog, who battles her ideas-stealing, feline nemesis, Kitty Perry, and teaches friends, including Justin Beaver and a rather dim Welsh sheep called Ed Shearling, about the importance of choosing an original band name and registering it as a trademark. |
| Most of the lessons are delivered by Nancy's sharp-suited but avuncular manager, Big Joe. | Most of the lessons are delivered by Nancy's sharp-suited but avuncular manager, Big Joe. |
| The Intellectual Property Office is leading the government's efforts to crack down on internet piracy and protect the revenues of Britain's creative industries. | The Intellectual Property Office is leading the government's efforts to crack down on internet piracy and protect the revenues of Britain's creative industries. |
| The quango is spending £20,000 of its own money on the latest Nancy campaign, which is part-funded by the UK music industry. | The quango is spending £20,000 of its own money on the latest Nancy campaign, which is part-funded by the UK music industry. |
| Catherine Davies, head of the IPO's education outreach department, which already produces teaching materials for GCSE students, admitted IP was a "complex subject" for small children and something of a challenge to make accessible and entertaining. | Catherine Davies, head of the IPO's education outreach department, which already produces teaching materials for GCSE students, admitted IP was a "complex subject" for small children and something of a challenge to make accessible and entertaining. |
| But she added: "In today's digital environment, even very young people are IP consumers, accessing online digital content independently and regularly. | But she added: "In today's digital environment, even very young people are IP consumers, accessing online digital content independently and regularly. |
| "They are creators of IP, and many will leave school or university to take up careers in industries that depend upon inventiveness and creativity. | "They are creators of IP, and many will leave school or university to take up careers in industries that depend upon inventiveness and creativity. |
| "A basic understanding of IP and a respect for others' IP rights is therefore a key life skill." | "A basic understanding of IP and a respect for others' IP rights is therefore a key life skill." |
| But some fear the IPO is being too heavy-handed in its warnings about piracy and that the message could backfire. | But some fear the IPO is being too heavy-handed in its warnings about piracy and that the message could backfire. |
| Jim Killock, director of the Open Rights Group campaign, said: "Some of the material seems misleading, in particular the episode explaining that downloading is the same as stealing from a shop. | Jim Killock, director of the Open Rights Group campaign, said: "Some of the material seems misleading, in particular the episode explaining that downloading is the same as stealing from a shop. |
| "While it's wrong, it is neither the same in law - as downloading is a civil wrong while theft is a crime - nor is it a convincing analogy. | "While it's wrong, it is neither the same in law - as downloading is a civil wrong while theft is a crime - nor is it a convincing analogy. |
| "The IPO risk educating children that copyright law is stupid and immoral by putting forward simplistic arguments like that." | "The IPO risk educating children that copyright law is stupid and immoral by putting forward simplistic arguments like that." |
| Cartoon crusaders | Cartoon crusaders |
| Public information films - such as the much-loved Charley Says campaign - warned a generation of children about the dangers of playing with matches or going off with strangers | Public information films - such as the much-loved Charley Says campaign - warned a generation of children about the dangers of playing with matches or going off with strangers |
| The genre has declined since its 1970s heyday, although Charley the cat made a comeback in 2014 in an electrical safety campaign voiced by comedian David Walliams. | The genre has declined since its 1970s heyday, although Charley the cat made a comeback in 2014 in an electrical safety campaign voiced by comedian David Walliams. |
| But government departments have also been turning to cartoons to educate very young children about boring and complicated subjects | But government departments have also been turning to cartoons to educate very young children about boring and complicated subjects |
| In 2016, HM Revenue & Customs produced a Junior Tax Facts video for eight- to 11-year-olds, which explained, among other things, that the VAT on sweets meant they were taxpayers too | In 2016, HM Revenue & Customs produced a Junior Tax Facts video for eight- to 11-year-olds, which explained, among other things, that the VAT on sweets meant they were taxpayers too |