Information Commissioner's Office

Summary: The complainant has requested internal communications regarding the redactions to submissions received in response to a 2012 public consultation run by the UK Intellectual Property Office (-�IPO-�). The IPO made a partial disclosure but after an internal review, it argued that it was not obliged to provide the remainder by virtue of section 42 (legal professional privilege exemption) and section 40(2) (unfair disclosure of personal data). The Commissioner-�s decision is that the IPO is entitled to rely on section 42 and section 40(2) as a basis for withholding the remainder of the requested information. He has also decided that a small portion of the requested information is exempt under section 40(1) because it is the personal data of the requester. No steps are required.
Section of Act/EIR & Finding: FOI 40 - Complaint Not upheld, FOI 42 - Complaint Not upheld