ACID Members receive a whole host of benefits, services and self-help tools that can be accessed through the website, including:
Get a licence to display the Member of ACID logo on your websites, products and marketing materials as a powerful brand of deterrence.
Gain entitlement to a free period of preliminary legal advice on separate issues from our IP Specialist Legal Affiliates.
Upload your designs and documents to our online IP Databank to ensure you have third party dated evidence of their existence.
Take the opportunity to respond to surveys and give your opinion through case studies, and get your voice heard at Parliamentary level.
SnapDragon’s cutting-edge AI, Swoop, proactively hunts down online threats & infringements. As an ACID Member, you'll benefit from a 15% discount!
Keep track of upcoming ACID events including ACID’s Business Webinar Series or Meet the Team at ACID Accredited Exhibitions.
Whether you are a student, sole trader, micro, macro, SME or Corporate, ACID Membership can help to underpin your intellectual property rights and your creation of a sound IP policy to enable your company to grow. There are different types of ACID Membership available to help make services affordable to as many ranges of turnover as possible.
Annual turnover less than £500,000
For independent creatives and small businesses with annual turnovers of less than £500,000, our Standard ACID Membership gives you all the tools you need to protect your IP and livelihood. This includes use of the ACID Member logo, free legal advice, access to our IP Databank, member discounts, business promotion through our media channels and much more.
Annual turnover over £500,000
For companies with annual turnovers in excess of £500,000, our Corporate Membership offers an opportunity to influence our lobbying activities and commit to ethical business practices, as advocates for original design. In addition to our Standard benefits, you'll receive an Intellectual Property Strategy Review (IPSR) worth £5,000, mentoring, networking, and much more.
For current design students
Studying design, and want to know more about IP? At ACID, we believe in 'Educate to Protect' for our young designers, here to protect your creativity and your future. With a waived initial joining fee, our discounted Student Membership gives you full access to ACID's Standard Membership benefits at an affordable rate, including the IP Databank to protect your end-of-year designs.
Are you a first-year startup? Protect your designs and secure your future with 50% off Annual Category 1 Membership for your first year.
Display the ACID logo for added deterrence, use the IP Databank to protect your designs, access our IP Specialist Legal Affiliates and much more. Use code STARTUP50 at checkout to claim your discount and start safeguarding your ideas from day one.
We believe the UK’s creative industries, designers and manufacturers deserve better; to protect their livelihoods, to maximise growth and minimise IP infringement. We have developed the ACID brand as a brand of deterrence and prevention, members use it far and wide to communicate one thing; a zero tolerance of IP theft.
Watch ACID Chairman and Co-Founder, Dids Macdonald, OBE, talk about the many benefits of ACID Membership and why you should join thousands of others in becoming part of the ACID Community.
ACID has done a fantastic job in raising the profile of IPR infringement and the impact this has on the design community. The work that ACID has done with regards to lobbying government for legislative changes has been very impressive and I can say from personal experience that the legal advice and support given when we have faced design infringement has been second to none.
The UK’s design industry generates billions of pounds to the UK economy each year. However IP can seem complex and some businesses can find it difficult to navigate the IP system, recognise the value of their IP and enforce their rights. ACID plays a vital role in supporting and advising the design community and business in maximising the value of their IP in an increasingly global market.
Design and intellectual property are inextricably linked, with the success of one dependent on the other. Together we can always achieve more than separately. We are delighted therefore to have an active relationship of mutual reciprocity and support with ACID. Not only does this benefit both of us but, most importantly, it benefits the design economy and those working within it.
The support ACID gives startups is truly unmatched. Designers come from a wide array of backgrounds. While we often wear many hats, taking on the responsibility of protecting our IP can be incredibly daunting. ACID empowers us to make informed decisions about how to protect our creativity, our innovation, and ultimately our livelihoods.
I cannot speak highly enough of ACID. My experience working alongside them as a student ambassador has been incredibly positive, empowering, and insightful. ACID’s strong values and commitment to supporting emerging designers is truly inspiring. Their dedication to making IP knowledge more accessible is both impactful and much needed in the design world. ACID is approachable, responsive, and genuinely passionate about making a difference, from helping me understand how to protect my work, to connecting me with relevant contacts and providing essential resources; they went above and beyond. I highly recommend them for support with your IP rights as a designer.
I am pleased to continue the IPO's support for the ACID IP Charter. Promoting respect and integrity for IP in designs is hugely important and this code of conduct is a great way to demonstrate that to the public and designs community alike.
ACID is a powerful voice for UK designers, tirelessly championing the importance of protecting creativity and innovation. Its support, lobbying and determination to secure a fairer legal framework make a real difference for businesses facing design theft. ACID has consistently been a fantastic source of inspiration, guidance and support to Robert Welch.
