ACID CEO Dids Macdonald talks to New Design about Design and Why IP Matters which you can read in full here.

Design is the backbone of how we live and work in society. It is how we develop our culture and grow our economy. Therefore Intellectual Property (IP) is crucial to the UK’s economic, cultural, and social wellbeing. With an £85.2 billion contribution to the UK’s GVA it is clear how much of our economy is reliant on strong IP laws and protections. This is set to get even more complicated with the developments of technologies such as AI, metaverse and 3/4/5D printing.

The Government lauds the UK as having one of the best IP regimes in the world. Although in some areas this can be true, such as Copyright and Trademarks. However, if you are a designer, Goliath tends to triumph over David.

Despite advances such as ACID’s successful campaign to make infringement of a registered design a crime, there hasn’t been much improvement in the law or provisions to protect designers, especially SME’s. Without Unregistered Designs having the same protection as Registered Designs, the law will not be equitable.

ACID CEO Dids Macdonald, OBE, said, “ACID believes a good starting point is a combination od many solution-led initiatives (mediation, national IP insurance, simplified design law) including the introduction of criminal provisions for the intentional infringement of an unregistered design to act as a real deterrent.”

Finally, there is a once in a decade opportunity for design law reform and positive change. The IPO “Calls for Views” allows designers to let the IPO know if the current IP framework is fit for purpose. So if you design, please take part and support real policy change.

ACID is also launching the ACID IP Charter – A united voice is a stronger voice about IP as a positive force for growth.