On 15 November 2011 the UK government approved a further improvement to IP litigation in the UK. The Patents County Court, which is able to hear cases on patents, trade marks, copyright and designs, has over the past year been restructured to enable more companies to bring IP litigation cases by providing a suitable forum for smaller cases. In particular, cases are expected to managed so as to take no more than about three days at trial, and costs are limited to £50,000, and damages to £500,000. The latest development has confirmed that a new small claims service will be introduced at some point during 2012. It is designed for SMEs, and will limit fixed costs and allow damages of up to only £5000 per case.