The UK's leading business organisation weighed into the copyright debate today by making public its submission to the government-commissioned Independent Review of Intellectual Property and Growth.

The submission strongly supports the retention of a robust framework to protect intellectual property, saying it must be maintained "to support continuing investment and growth".

In a statement released this morning, the CBI stated: "Copyright is the lifeblood of our creative industries, and should not be eroded. In the digital age, new technologies are changing how information is distributed, and we must ensure that people's ideas are protected. Wholesale changes to the IP framework could damage confidence, reduce the incentive for further investment, and threaten growth."

The review, launched by Prime Minister David Cameron last November, will look at simplifying copyright law and making it more workable for the digital age. Cameron has also asked the Intellectual Property Office to look at the possibility of expanding the country "fair usage" policy to be more in line with that of the US. However, many in the creative industries worry the review will be used to build a case to weaken copyright law. And, given no one from the creative industries is represented in the review's panel of experts, they fear damaging legislation will be imposed without proper consultation.

The CBI says support for intellectual property is vital not just to the UK's creative industries, but also to other "world-class IP-intensive sectors, including pharmaceuticals, aerospace and commercial goods".

John Cridland, CBI director-general, says: "Intellectual Property is a key economic driver, and should be considered one of our crown jewels.... The Government must set out a clear and unambiguous aspiration to make the UK the best place to create, develop and exploit IP. Any significant change or weakening of the existing IP regime, particularly erosion of the copyright laws, could undermine our creative industries, and be a big risk. We must play to our natural strengths by supporting the UK's world-class creative and other IP-rich industries, which are fundamental to growth."

To ensure the UK's IP system continues to attract investment and support growth, the CBI is calling on the Government to:

• Create a comprehensive support strategy for IP-rich businesses, which recognises that the IP framework is influenced by the wider tax, competition and skills environment
• Develop a better understanding of IP amongst competition authorities
• Increase the UK's tax competitiveness, beginning with a smooth introduction for the patent box scheme
• Simplify the procedure for seizing counterfeit goods
• Use foreign and trade policies to promote robust enforcement of intellectual property rights globally