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“I used to be a successful product designer; producing hand-painted, decorative accessories for top interior designers. A huge problem quickly became apparent – theft. Every new design we created was blatantly copied by larger companies without any hope of redress. Much like the vast majority of Britain’s now 1.9 million design companies, the majority are lone, micro and SME and I was in no position to singlehandedly confront these shameless thieves and copycats.
Today, ACID represents thousands of designers. We proudly stand on the frontline of the ongoing battle against design theft and strive to help promote design-originality as a genuine route to a creator’s growth. We are a united front; offering assistance and recourse to designers wherever possible. The ACID community grows larger and stronger every day and we are determined to fight for designers to have their voices heard.”
Dids Macdonald OBE, CEO & Co-Founder
“I used to be a successful product designer; producing hand-painted, decorative accessories for top interior designers. A huge problem quickly became apparent – theft. Every new design we created was blatantly copied by larger companies without any hope of redress. Much like the vast majority of Britain’s now 1.9 million design companies, the majority are lone, micro and SME and I was in no position to singlehandedly confront these shameless thieves and copycats.
Today, ACID represents thousands of designers. We proudly stand on the frontline of the ongoing battle against design theft and strive to help promote design-originality as a genuine route to a creator’s growth. We are a united front; offering assistance and recourse to designers wherever possible. The ACID community grows larger and stronger every day and we are determined to fight for designers to have their voices heard.”
Dids Macdonald OBE, CEO & Co-Founder
“I used to be a successful product designer; producing hand-painted, decorative accessories for top interior designers. A huge problem quickly became apparent – theft. Every new design we created was blatantly copied by larger companies without any hope of redress. Much like the vast majority of Britain’s now 1.9 million design companies, the majority are lone, micro and SME and I was in no position to singlehandedly confront these shameless thieves and copycats.
Today, ACID represents thousands of designers. We proudly stand on the frontline of the ongoing battle against design theft and strive to help promote design-originality as a genuine route to a creator’s growth. We are a united front; offering assistance and recourse to designers wherever possible. The ACID community grows larger and stronger every day and we are determined to fight for designers to have their voices heard.”
Dids Macdonald OBE, CEO & Co-Founder
“The Oxford Dictionary describes ‘imitation as the sincerest form of flattery’, while Oscar Wilde disagrees vehemently, describing ‘imitation as the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.’ Dids Macdonald cofounded ACID, Anti Copying in Design, and her work has made history by championing and changing design law. Let’s find out more from the woman changing the legal framework to end copying in the design industry.”
For a quarter of a century, ACID have been committed to raising awareness and encouraging respect for IP, with an emphasis on creating the safest possible trading environment for its members.
ACID membership gives you access to a thriving online community with a wide range of benefits, services and educational self-help tools to protect your business from the devastating impact of design-theft.
ACID Membership provides self help tools to support your IP Rights, tried & tested over 25 years.
Use the Member of ACID Logo to show you are aware of your rights and have support from a leading organisation
Gain access to six specialist legal teams ready to provide advice on any IP issues that may arise, with a free initial period of legal advice for every separate legal query.
Feature your business in our Member Focus and raise your profile through our wide reaching media platforms. Follow our Social Media and we can follow yours.
ACID’s seminars, events and FAQ’s are an invaluable source of information and available in the Member Area. Knowledge is Power.
Regular news updates straight to your inbox, the ACID Magazine and our News Desk will keep you on top of all IP matters affecting you and your business
We speak to Government, key influencers and policy makers to ensure that the best possible IP enforcement framework is in place to allow IP creators’ ideas to be monetised to achieve growth.
ACID’s Spot the Difference section and through our social media, case studies and articles highlights the prevalence of infringements.
When freelance furniture designer Simone Brewster designed a cabinet for Swoon, she received no further correspondence, so naturally assumed that Swoon Editions had decided not to use her designs. However, when she later discovered that Swoon had not only used her designs without permission, but had begun to produce and actively market them, it was time for action.
In our Spot the Difference gallery, we have showcased our members’ stories of senseless design theft – highlighting examples of original design and the legal cases that have ensued from blatant copies.
Our remit, as well as supporting the ACID community with education and awareness, deterrence, prevention, and support, is to be a strong and resolute voice to communicate to Government and policy makers on intellectual property issues which affect designers. Through campaigning, lobbying and advocacy, we’re proud to have made our mark within the legislative agenda.
Law
ACID’s 20 years of campaigning culminated in the 2014 IP Act making the intentional infringement of a Registered Design a criminal offence, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Litigation
We successfully campaigned for the introduction of a Small Claims Track within the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court to enable small claims of less than £10,000.
Parliament
ACID also lobbied for the creation of the role of Minister of Intellectual Property and we are now one of the few countries in the world to have one.
Resolution
There have been 1000s of settlements, over 4000+ mediations and through the awareness of ACID and many others, design is no longer an unsung hero in the UK economy.
"A culture that values and respects intellectual property is one where ideas flourish and their progenitors are fairly rewarded. We need bodies like ACID to create, maintain and police that culture."
"A culture that values and respects intellectual property is one where ideas flourish and their progenitors are fairly rewarded. We need bodies like ACID to create, maintain and police that culture."
Presenter of Grand Designs
