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Anti Copying in Design (ACID) has been named at the first-ever UK ‘IP Champion’, at an event in Westminster yesterday (Tuesday, 5 July).
The award – handed out on the first British IP Day, launched by the Alliance for Intellectual Property – recognises a person, organisation or campaign that has shown “excellence” in the promotion or protection of IP.
ACID was awarded the accolade for its IP Act campaign, which resulted in the intentional infringement of a registered design now being a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Dids Macdonald, CEO of ACID, said: “This not only a proud moment but a huge opportunity to salute the UK’s amazing designers who have a global reputation for excellence and punch well above their weight, a sector growing at over 10% per year.
“Our 12 year campaign, now enshrined in law, means that the intentional infringement of a registered design is now a crime and this is a significant step forward. We’re now even more determined to carry on until all design theft has criminal provisions to act as a real deterrent.”
She said post-Brexit Britain has a “unique opportunity” to update UK unregistered design rights to give UK designers a “positive advantage” after the country leaves the EU.
Pete Wishart, MP and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on IP, added: “It’s vital that MPs from across the political spectrum understand the importance of intellectual property and how it drives economic growth and jobs in every constituency across the country.”
