John Howkins

John Howkins is Director of the Adelphi Charter. He had the idea for the Charter, formerly known as the Intellectual Property Charter, in 2003.

He was the Chair of the CODE conference (Collaboration and Ownership in the Digital Economy) in Cambridge in 2001 and edited the book, ‘CODE’, 2003. He chaired the follow-up meeting at the ICA, London, in 2003 which launched the ‘CODE’ book, and the ‘IP&PD’ meeting (Intellectual Property and the Public Domain), supported by Duke University and Arts Council England in London, 2004.

His interest in intellectual property policy springs from his experience in media, international governance and policy, and the creative economy.

He was Executive Director of the International Institute of Communications (IIC) 1985-1990 working closely with international organisations, corporations, universities and other bodies in over 100 countries. The IIC was active in promoting the New World Information Order and took the lead role in developing the Right to Communicate.

He is a former Chairman of the London Film School and Vice Chairman of the Association of Independent Producers. He was Coordinator of the European Commission’s Audiovisual Conference 1998. In 2003 he proposed a London-based Intellectual Property Advisory Centre which is now called Own It.

He was associated with Time Warner for 15 years with responsibilities for strategy and new business in Europe.

He is a director of ITR & Co and has advised ABC, European Commission, IBM, London Development Agency, News Corp, NHK, Sky TV, Televisa, UNCTAD and Universal Studios. He has worked in over 30 countries.

He is currently a director of Equator Group plc, a film company listed on the London AIM market, and other companies creating and dealing in copyrights.

He is the author of many books, including 'CODE' (ed), ‘The Creative Economy', ‘Global Scenarios for Information', 'New Technologies, New Policies' and 'Communications in China'.

He is Visiting Professor of Creative Industries, Lincoln University.

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