“1/4″]”8750″]”3/4”]Summer 2020 Update

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.

Responding to Government consultations plays a leading role in representing your views and demonstrating the issues that you face. Unlike “the copyright lobby” (the audio visual, music, toy and games, business software, sports rights, branded manufactured goods, publishing, retailing and artists) which are funded by international support with sophisticated public affairs support, ACID has limited funds, but we have made our mark!

ACID is different – there is no other body representing designers’ IP interests. We rely you telling us the issues you face so that we can provide compelling evidence to support what we know but will only resonate if we can provide robust evidence. Case studies are important so please let us know the issues that affect you.

Progress is slow. At times it feels like swimming in glue to ensure that common sense reforms are in place in tangent with current issues such as rampant online infringement, the exploitation of designers by major high street retailers and major manufacturers and access to time and cost effective enforcement.

Dids Macdonald, OBE., ACID’s CEO said “I am more determined than ever that designer’ voices will be heard. After all, now, even mor than ever there will be those who will steal and copy to unlawfully get their share of a valuable and diminishing market share. It cannot happen anymore. I am increasingly describing myself as an IP activist and warrior swimming against the tide. We have to be united”.

Our key campaigning aims are:

• To ensure that the ultimate deterrent of criminal provisions for intentional infringement of an unregistered design becomes a reality
• Ensuring, through the Enforcement Review, that there is simplicity in the process for IP redress through the small claims track of the IP Enterprise Court and that registered designs claims can be heard.
• To see the culmination of a four-year campaign a) to introduce a supplementary design right equivalent to the current EU unregistered design protection when we finish the transition year and Jan 1, 2021. b) Having lobbied for the last four years, UK EU negotiations now includes text which will provide not only clarity for UK designers on continued unregistered design protection in EU27 evaluating the result of current ongoing negotiations. Hopefully, this will now happen if there is a deal.
• To make ACID’s voice heard on a very complex designs landscape in Department of International Trade negotiations with Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and US
• To raise the voice of the online infringement of physical goods/designs on UK marketplaces and on social media become not only the language of copyright but of IP and design rights’ issues i.e., physical goods online.

Watch some short videos of your stories which have helped move the dialogue forward:

• ThisisNessie about online infringement, click here to watch.
• Listen to legendary designer Elizabeth Gage, world famous jewellery designer, MD and innovative garden product designs director of Burgon & Ball and from Cynthia Wilkinson, wife of the late Mark Wilkinson, pioneers and IP creators of the past, enduring now as a national brand of success and design integrity. Click here to watch.

Take a look at the consultation to which ACID has responded on your behalf recently:

• Design Rights Infringement Survey
• EU Consultation on designs
• Review of progress since the 2013 Review of Designs
• Draft Calls for Evidence – IP Enforcement, ACID Response
• ACID Report to the House of Lords on House of Lords EU Services, Sub-committee on UK-EU Future relationship on professional and business services
• Response to the House of Lords EU Select Committee International Agreements Sub-Committee UK-US Trade Negotiations

If you feel you can help move conversations forward with case studies, please contact Dids Macdonald directly at [email protected]