CHEAD is delighted to announce we have formalised our partnership with ACID, strengthening our commitment to championing and protecting creative innovation.
Below, CEO Laura Newbold Breen summarises ACID’s work and its importance.
Intellectual Property and Education: Nurturing the Future of Tomorrow’s Designers
Intellectual property (IP) is the foundation for all designs, creative works and brands. The earlier IP is learned, understood and embraced, the better equipped our designers of tomorrow are.
Though many instances of copying are deliberate, often it is also due to a lack of education around IP rights. And it’s not just rival copycats we have to worry about; with AI scraping data left right and centre, suddenly stealing ideas is something we should all be worried about.
It’s as simple as EEE – Early Education is Essential
We must all ensure we understand our IP rights, and the IP rights of others, to maintain respect of IP ownership throughout our creative industries.
Anti Copying In Design (ACID) is UK's leading membership and campaigning organisation for IP rights, with a diverse membership, ranging from individuals to multinationals, and spanning many industry sectors. We are committed to fighting design theft and lobbying Parliament for design law reform and respectful, compliant and ethical practices in IP and AI.
Education and Awareness is one of ACID’s five key pillars that underpin everything we do. From a monthly webinar programme to social media, from our quarterly magazine to in person talks; we stand for IP in the spirit of education.
Bringing ACID to New Designers
Each year, ACID attends New Designers to speak to students and tutors, giving support and advice. We always meet the most fantastic people, and our messages are always consistently audit trails, deterrence and risk mitigation.
There must be a signed and dated audit trail of design progress from idea to marketplace - concept, design drawings, prototypes and different progress iterations. Should copying ever be suspected, or if ever you are accused of copying, an audit trail is essential to prove date of creation and ownership. ACID members use the ACID IP Databank, which gives 3rd party evidence that has been successful in taking down copies on Amazon and TEMU, as well as being used successfully in court.
Deterrence and communicating you know your IP rights is invaluable. ACID members use the ACID logo to demonstrate they are part of a community that respects IP and has zero tolerance to IP theft. Add a powerful message to your website and social media: “All the intellectual property in our designs belongs to (your name). Any infringements will be pursued seriously.” If you don’t want to be copied, say so!
Whether you are a freelancer, looking to license your work or a large retailer has asked to buy your design, it can often be tempting to seize any and every opportunity that comes your way. Take a pause; risk mitigation is key to the longevity of IP. Knowing where you and any other parties stand is imperative should any issues arise down the line. ACID has a range of legal agreement templates to download and complete. Always seek legal advice before submitting any agreement to, or signing an agreement with, another party.
Often we meet students with something potentially patentable; a manufacturing process, a new sustainable material or even an entirely new invention. Never disclose this publicly until legal advice has been sought; it could mean the difference between patent or no patent. Similarly, trade secrets are a hidden weapon; they differentiate you from competitors. Keep anything like recipes, manufacturing processes, business agreements and so on to yourself.
Finally, always question ownership. If you’re using AI, consider where the information, images and text you may utilise has come from. In all likelihood, it is the brain child of a designer just like you and we must protect originality and respect ownership, at all costs.
Sign our AI and IP Charter and pledge your support to Respect, Compliance and Ethics in IP.
If you’re in any doubt about disclosing anything, need advice on how to protect your work or have any IP queries or concerns, ACID legal affiliates are all IP specialists and here to help and ACID members have access to an hour’s free legal advice per issue.
If you would like ACID to provide IP education materials or webinars for your organisation, please do get in touch at info@acid.uk.com.
Subscribe to our magazine and read all about our work and membership community.
Website: https://www.acid.uk.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AntiCopyingInDesign/
Twitter: @ACID_tweets
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anti-copying-in-design
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anti.copying.in.design/
Laura Newbold Breen, ACID CEO
Laura Newbold Breen joined ACID in December 2023 as COO following 10 years as Head of Legal for Magmatic Ltd, previous owner of the Trunki brand. In June 2024, Laura was appointed the new CEO of ACID, renewing her commitment to supporting the ACID Community and ensuring we are armed in the fight against intellectual property (IP) infringement. She is responsible for the strategic and operational aspects of ACID, and drives continual improvements to ensure ACID’s members receive the best support they can to ensure their businesses and creativity is protected.
Laura holds a Masters’ Degree in Psychology and has extensive experience in a wide range of business areas including HR, Operations, Compliance and H&S as well as IP. She is passionate about UK manufacturers, designers and SMEs and committed to supporting them navigate the complexities of IP.
