ACID, (Anti Copying in Design) has formed a trade association partnership with the IGI (International Wallcovering Manufacturers Association) to raise the profile and value of Intellectual Property among its members through education, support and deterrence.

This move is part of an on-going campaign by ACID to work alongside trade organisations pan industry. Through IP education on how to protect your intellectual property effectively and how to integrate IP as part of a corporate or marketing strategy – ACID will advise IGI members on creating a safe trading environment by safeguarding their IP equity when tendering or pitching for business. ACID will also work with IGI on strengthening respect for intellectual property within corporate responsibility. Says Geraldine De Limelette, Secretary General, IGI,  ‘We have spent the last year working closely with ACID to promote the value of IP within membership. As an ACID trade association partner we can now offer our members the depth of expertise and experience ACID has in fighting design theft while helping our members develop individual IP strategies to underpin their commercial objectives’. Adds Dids Macdonald, CEO of ACID, ‘The wallcoverings industry is the 5th trade organisation to take advantage of ACID’s Trade Associations module. The module is bespoke according to the market sector and includes a discounted group membership fee, seminars, tailored IP advice through regular web and newsletter features, standard tender agreements, and IP clinics plus over 30 ACID membership benefits including IP legal advice and the use of the free ACID design bank. I strongly advise any trade association who is committed to design protection and IP education to talk to ACID’.