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Parody of music videos, television shows and other media is not permitted under UK intellectual property law. In 2011, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) commissioned Bournemouth University (BU) to study the economic effects of parody on commercial rights holders. The research found the process does not have negative impacts on the market and in many cases contributes to the commercial success of original works. The study identified further social and cultural benefits. In 2012, the Government adopted BU's recommendations to change the law and proposed a copyright exception for parody, making it exempt from copyright laws.
BU economic modelling research has driven increased profits for leading international consultants Maxwell Stamp PLC, to the tune of £12 million to date. Simultaneously, the research has benefited the company's clients, including several governments. For example, the research was used to provide advice critical in helping Namibia safeguard revenues of US$700 million annually from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
Independent of Maxwell Stamp, the same techniques have been used to strengthen the research capabilities of the Institute for Scientific Research on Economic Reforms, Azerbaijan. This has been integral in the successful development of new, internationally competitive industries and the World Bank naming Azerbaijan one of the top 10 economic reformers.
Research conducted by John Turnpenny shaped the recommendations of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC). In 2010, the EAC addressed the need to embed sustainable development across government policy-making. This followed the closure of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) and the end of funding for the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC). The EAC determined to change how it engaged with experts, while reaffirming and expanding its role in the overall scrutiny of government sustainability policy. Turnpenny's findings formed the basis of two of the thirteen headline recommendations in the EAC's 2011 report Embedding Sustainable Development Across Government. In addition his suggestions helped influence significant changes in the way that the EAC operates, and contributed to its wider impact among other policy actors.
Bournemouth University's (BU) pioneering analytical method of mapping ecosystem services and their associated values has led to significant impacts on environmental policy, planning and implementation at a global scale. Research informed the Convention of Biodiversity's (CBD) strategic plan for 2011-20 and its target to restore 15% of degraded ecosystems. Planned delivery of this target employs the use of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR); an approach developed, tested and refined though BU research. Delivery using this method is already underway, with 50 million hectares committed by individual countries. Such restoration efforts have wide-reaching benefits to people and the environment, including carbon storage and increased biodiversity.