Whilst it is clear that working in global markets offers many opportunities to UK designers and manufacturers, there can also be issues when dealing with intellectual property challenges effectively. The ACID China IP group was formed to open channels, with Tom Duke, the UK IP Attaché based in Beijing, officials from the British Embassy in China, UK IPO foreign policy officials and the UK IPO designs team acting as a positive conduit for ACID member engagement, sharing information and intelligence.
ACID also has affiliations with the following groups who can offer help and advice to those wishing to trade in global markets.
CBBC’s mission is to help UK companies of all sizes and sectors, whether new entrants or established operations, access the full potential of the fastest growing market in the world. CBBC deliver a range of practical services, including: advice and consultancy, market research, event management, an overseas market introduction service, trade missions and exhibitions, and setting up rep offices. They have 10 UK offices and 13 offices across key locations in China. This in-country network provides invaluable local insight, access, and knowledge. It is also the basis of their Launchpad® and Hotdesk services. As a partner of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) they deliver its business-to-business services in China.
IPR SME Helpdesks are a wonderful resource if you wish to work within a territory outside Europe. An excellent website is the IPR SME Helpdesk which has individual websites for specific territories, including China, Europe, India, Latin America, South-East Asia and Africa. Individual SMEs and SME intermediaries can submit IP enquiries directly to the Helpdesk via phone, email or in person, getting access to a panel of experts to receive free and confidential first-line advice. Visit the main website below or the individual regions directly.
The China IPR SME Helpdesk supports European Union (EU) small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to both protect and enforce their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in or relating to China, through the provision of free information and services. These take the form of jargon-free, first-line, confidential advice on intellectual property and related issues, plus training, materials and online resources. The China IPR SME Helpdesk project is funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and builds on the achievements of a pilot project carried out in 2008-10. The Helpdesk offers free services for European SMEs.
The South-East Asia IPR SME Helpdesk supports European Union (EU) small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to both protect and enforce their Intellectual Property (IP) rights in or relating to South-East Asian countries, through the provision of free information and services. These take the form of jargon-free, first-line, confidential advice on intellectual property and related issues, plus training, materials and online resources. The South-East Asia IPR SME Helpdesk project is co-funded by the European Commission. The current project runs from January 2015 – December 2017, and comprises a total budget of EUR 2.4 million over the thirty-six month period.
Whether your business is already operating in Latin America or you are exploring the potential offered by the region, Helpdesk Factsheets provides you with an overview on key matters related to Intellectual Property in each specific country. They are specially tailored to the needs of European SMEs.
