Photography by Gemma Klein Photography

At the latest ACID Advisory Council meeting Anti Copying in Design welcomed its newest Council member Fred McCaig, Operations Director of leading garden furniture designer and manufacturer, Gaze Burvill.  It was an opportune moment, as we had the pleasure of welcoming Tim Moss, CBE., CEO of the Intellectual Property Office and Fred was able to explain some of the diverse and insidious IP issues not only faced by Gaze Burvill but many design-led organisations within the garden furniture sector.

Fred McCaig said, “As a sophisticated, design-led organisation Gaze Burvill is a leader, not a follower and our reputation has been built on originality, sustainability and quality. We are determined that those who pass off or copy, whether they are retailers or independent designers will be held to account. One of the first aspects on which Gaze Burvill and ACID will work is having positive conversations with show organisers to create IP responsibility on all those who exhibit. ACID have had significant success with their ACID Accredited Show Organiser Scheme and we hope that we can develop this within the garden sector to bring IP ethics, respect and compliance into play”

Dids Macdonald, OBE., ACID’s CEO said, on welcoming Fred McCaig to the ACID Council, “The ACID Council is a guiding influence on design and IP strategy now and for the future and the diversity of its membership ensures that all sector issues and IP interests are identified and represented. Fred McCaig brings a keen awareness of IP to our Council and is determined to influence not only the garden sector but our Council on strategies to change the culture that it appears to be OK to produce lookalikes of original designs. Gaze Burvill are active members of ACID and, following an Intellectual Property Strategy Review, have created a robust and proactive intellectual property (IP) strategy”.

Typically, most issues facing not only Gaze Burvill but other ethical companies within the garden furniture sector relate to serial offenders where importers of outdoor furniture have identified designs from a catalogue or sent images to a manufacturer that are direct copies of designs. Keeping a watchful eye on the market when often copyists will also use unauthorised images, names and designs that are registered is critical.

For companies like Gaze Burvill who build their reputation on original design, there is a high-profile message on their website about their policy of taking legal action if their IP is infringed. Communicating a proactive IP strategy is essential and ensuring there is a robust policy in place to protect drawings and materials sent to customers is an essential part of any sales process. One of the most vulnerable situations is designs being replicated from sales drawings and specification documents and this is where the ACID IP Databank can provide that vital evidence to support ownership.

“Creating the finest English outdoor furniture through an honest commitment to design integrity, comfort and craftsmanship.” That, in essence, is the objective of Gaze Burvill and the oak collections presented by the Team is the expression of it.  Gaze Burvill design and build Oak furniture at their Hampshire Workshop from sustainably sourced wood from expertly managed European forests.  Using steam bending techniques, they shape solid Oak into distinctive, flowing curves that provide outstanding comfort and durability.  In 2014, Gaze Burvill moved to Lodge Farm, a new purpose built eco-friendly premises comprising of Workshop, Offices and Grade II listed Showroom. Set in Hampshire, in beautiful English countryside an hour southwest of London, it offers visitors an opportunity to see the unique way Gaze Burvill furniture is made. www.gazeburvill.com

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