The European Patent Office (EPO) is offering three 2-day workshops this November with a selection of topics from over 60 teaching hours of recently updated material. This popular project is providing business advisors and TTOs with practical IP strategy training they can use when supporting their own client SMEs, entrepreneurs and start-ups. The modules cover much more than simply “how to register rights”, but rather discuss the business context in which IP can be commercialised. Modules on IP licensing, valuation, financing and enforcement provide a complete picture of the role IP plays in protecting and encouraging innovation.

PLEASE NOTE: each of the three workshops includes different topics.  For more information please follow the links below:

14 & 15 November – Munich, Germany
IP in Business Practice (Includes an all new module on “IP Deals in China”)

22 & 23 November – Vienna, Austria
IP Information for Business Success

29 & 30 November – Berlin, Germany
Trading IP (Includes an all new module on “IP deals in China”)

Attendance costs just €250 for each 2-day workshop – but places are limited to just 20 seats per workshop!

The EPO has recruited many of the authors of these new materials to teach what they have written, so this is a rare opportunity to be taught by the experts in the field.

IP MINISTER ISSUES INVITATION FOR DESIGNERS TO BE INVOLVED WITH FUTURE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DESIGN POLICY

ACID (Anti Copying In Design) welcomes an open invitation to the UK design sector from Baroness Wilcox, Minister for Intellectual Property, to shape future IP Design Policy, at an event held at the Design Council to encourage initial debate on what makes the design industry tick. Lady Wilcox said, “I urge the business community to participate in this call for evidence and help shape the future of design in the UK.” This could not come at a more timely moment following Professor Hargreaves recommendations that this sector of the creative industries had been neglected in the past. “Investment in design in the UK,” said Lady Wilcox, “Contributed £33 billion or 2.4% of the UK’s GDP in 2008.” 

Dids Macdonald, CEO of ACID, a panellist at today’s event said, “This is a very encouraging start but it will only be effective if the whole design sector is prepared to contribute, with real evidence and case studies to highlight some of the challenges facing design through IP infringement and Government listens and acts.  This is a huge opportunity for designers to speak out about their IP issues!”

Right, Baroness Wilcox earlier this month following a meeting with ACID Members Dan Black of Black & Blum and Rodney McMahon of Morgan Contract Furniture (also Chairman of BCFA and Honorary President of FIT) together with representatives from BDI.

Macdonald continued, “Innovation happens irrespective of IP rights but designers should demand a robust IP framework from which to achieve growth through ROI, reinforced by a realistic, cost and time effective legal framework to address infringement, with appropriate exemplary damages. Without this, growth will be eroded and jobs threatened. This, alone, would go a long way to discourage those who take the fast track to market by free riding on the back of the UK’s designers who are, undoubtedly, some of the best in the world.”

Design rights are complex. The majority of the UK’s 232,000 designers do not rely on registered rights and have less than 4 employees.  Therefore, it can be too expensive to take legal action, not to mention the debilitating negative effects which make running a small design led business almost impossible in the face of the uncertainty of potential infringement.  More importantly, Britain’s designers do not have the significant benefit that European counterparts have in being able to rely on unfair competition law.

ACID will be working closely and positively alongside the UK IPO to ensure that design’s voice is heard loudly and clearly with the creation of sound policy and tangible actions to support this important part of the economy.

Statement from IPO on 21/9/11

The Government has today issued a ‘call for evidence’ (1.31Mb) in relation to the design sector and launched a supporting online questionnaire/survey aimed at business.

Baroness Wilcox announced the publication of the first phase of research into the use of design rights in the UK. The research shows that the most intensive spenders on design in the UK are business services, manufacturing and construction sectors. Relative to other countries in Europe the UK spends significantly on design related products and services; but there is very low awareness of design rights. The research also found that registered design rights are used mainly in specific business sectors, such as furniture and clothing.

These reports are available via our IP Research area.

The full Government response (402Kb) to the Hargreaves Review, along with the IP International Approach (580Kb) and IP Crime Strategy (413Kb) are available on this website.

  •  ‘Digital Opportunity: A review of intellectual property and growth’ is available on the review website.
  • A full copy of the Government response to the Hargreaves Review is also available on the BIS website .
  • For further information, please contact Dan Palmer on 0207 215 5303 or e-mail communications@ipo.gov.uk. 

 

CABE & Design CouncilDesign Reports Workshop: 21st September at The Design Council, 34 Bow Street, London WC2E 7DL: 9:30am – 4pm

What: One day workshop
When: 21 September 2011, 9.30am – 4pm (includes lunch)
Why: An opportunity to influence policy makers on the development of policy in design rights
Where: Design Council, 34 Bow Street, London WC2E 7DL

The design sector continues to make a significant contribution to the UK economy and in promoting a positive image of UK plc overseas. However, policy makers know little about how the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) system supports this successful and innovative sector.

The workshop will debate the results of four exciting linked research projects:
Mapping design activity in the UK: Jonathan Haskel – Imperial College
Design rights and business performance: Bruce Tether – Imperial College and University of Manchester
Exploring firm behaviours surrounding rights: James Moultrie – Imperial College
International comparison of rights: UK, Germany and France – BOP

There will be a debate regarding what the research means for the future of the UK design sector and what additional evidence and research is needed to support the development of Government policy in this area.

For more information please email: Tony.Creaton@ipo.gov.uk

London Design Festival LogoACID (Anti Copying In Design) is proud to announce that the London Design Festival has recently become an ACID Event Partner. It is a great pleasure for ACID to be associated with such a prestigious and creative event, which has been running since 2003 and, which has now become one of the world’s most important annual design happenings.

Visitors to the festival’s information point, found at the Victoria & Albert museum, may pick up an ACID leaflet. The ACID team is happy to support all members exhibiting at the festival, and they may call the ACID hotline number 0845 644 3617 to speak directly to a member of the ACID team should any assistance be needed.

ACID members please let us know if you are taking part in the festival (dawn.perry@acid.uk.com)

More on the London Design Festival here: www.londondesignfestival.com

Best wishes from ACID for a fruitful and inspired festival!