On Tuesday 6^th October, Anti Copying In Design (ACID) Chief Counsel Nick Kounoupias appeared on BBC Morning Live’s eye-opening feature on fakes, copycats and design infringement.

Nick talked candidly on the UK’s David and Goliath battles for small businesses against copycats, describing the difficulty small businesses face when enforcing their IP Rights.

At ACID, we know all too well that, for designers and small businesses, this is potentially catastrophic. For consumers, it is deceptive and disheartening to buy something that isn’t the original or authentic product they were expecting.

So, what can consumers do to protect themselves when buying a product online? Nick shared several pieces of advice:

• Research the seller and read the product reviews
• Understand the refund policy
• Pay with a method that has buyer protection
• If you spot a fake, report it to your local Trading Standards Department.

To watch the full feature, visit Morning Live – Series 8: 06/10/2026 – BBC iPlayer. Coverage starts at 29:24 and Nick’s interview starts at 34:32.

If you’re a seller concerned about online brand protection, you want to know more about design rights or you fear you have been copied and don’t know where to start, get in touch with ACID today [email protected]

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