Government Calls For Views by March 25 as Acid launches IP Charter campaign to protect artwork
Fed up with having artwork nicked? Then the Government wants to hear from you as it has a Calls For Views on reviewing the designs frameworks overseen by the Intellectual Property Office – and Anti Copying In Design (Acid) is also launching an IP Charter campaign.
Following Brexit, there is no longer a need for harmonisation with the European Union Intellectual Property Office, giving the UK “new flexibilities and opportunities to define the domestic design regime”, according to the Government.
It adds: “As we negotiate trade deals with international partners, we want to ensure the UK system supports UK designers and encourages overseas investment in the UK. This will give the UK a competitive edge and allow designers to get the most from new opportunities.”
The Calls For Views consultation ends on March 25 so, to make sure the views of artists, designers and illustrators across the greetings industry are taken into consideration, click here to get your point across.
Admittedly it’s not the simplest document but Dids Macdonald OBE, Acid chief executive, explains that the questions to concentrate on are numbers 23, 24, 25, and 26 covering enforcement, your thoughts on extending criminal sanctions to unregistered designs, and what economic evidence you have to support your view, as she says, “ie, how much have you lost through design infringement”.
Dids, who has spent over 30 years tackling design theft having set up Acid in the 1990s, adds: “Worth around £1.4billion despite an increasingly digital world – who said sending cards would be on the wane?
“This quirky, fast-moving and creative sector thrives on originality but, sadly, good design gets copied often because copyists spot a trend and infringe – a sanitised word for theft. Compared to many sectors the greeting card sector is mainly IP savvy. Many publishers include an Anti Copying In Design statement on the back of each card. It’s easy, no cost and sends a clear message of deterrence with every card that is sent. A united voice is a strong voice upholding the fabulously original and innovative sector.”
This month (March) the organisation is launching its Acid IP Charter campaign – calling for an intellectual property charter to give more legal protection to original designs – with two logos that can easily be added to the boiler plate on the back of a greeting card.
It wants people to become an Acid Charter signatory for a nominal £10 fee including VAT, which will contribute towards its fighting fund against design theft and to lobby for design law reform, and you receive a choice of logos to use and share, featuring the slogans “I am Anti Copying In Design” or “We are Anti Copying In Design”, to suit you and your business.
By signing the Acid Charter, you are agreeing to a Code of Conduct and making a public statement that you are anti copying in design and giving a commitment to uphold ethics, respect, and compliance as a minimum to designers of original works. To become a signatory click here, for more information click here.
Of the Call For Views the Government says it: “Seeks views on opportunities to improve the designs system in the UK. We seek evidence on the potential to improve the designs systems’ contribution to UK economic growth, and to inform decisions on legislative action. We welcome responses from individual designers, small and large businesses, legal professionals, rights holders, and all interested parties.
“An effective intellectual property (IP) system is vital to the Government’s ambition for the UK to be the best place in the world to innovate. Great design helps UK products stand out, demonstrate quality, and find consumers in a competitive global marketplace.
“In 2018 the Design Council reported that the design economy generated £85.2bn in gross value added (GVA) to the UK in 2016, equivalent to 7% of UK GVA. This demonstrates the importance of designs to the United Kingdom both now and in the future.
“The Intellectual Property Office is the Government agency responsible for ensuring the designs framework enables rights holders to protect designs and enforce their rights. We want the IP system to be responsive to the changing needs of UK innovators, creators, businesses and consumers. As such, the IPO is carrying out a review to ensure the UK’s domestic designs framework is fit for the future. This will allow IP to continue incentivising innovation and contribute to the post-pandemic recovery as the UK builds back better.
“This call for views seeks views on opportunities to improve the designs system in the UK. We seek evidence on the potential to improve the designs systems’ contribution to UK economic growth, and to inform decisions on legislative action. We welcome responses from individual designers, small and large businesses, legal professionals, rights holders, and all interested parties.”
Top: Have your say – the Government’s consultation ends on March 25
