2 September 2008

ACID, (Anti Copying in Design) has formed a trade association partnership with the Shop and Display Equipment Association (sdea) to help raise the profile and value of IP among its members.

This move is part of an on-going campaign by ACID to actively support trade organisations pan industry.  Through IP education – how to protect your designs and how to integrate IP as part of a corporate or marketing plan - ACID will advise sdea members on creating a safer trading environment by protecting their design equity through a robust IP strategy.

Says Lawrence Cutler, Director, sdea "I am delighted our organisation has been invited to join ACID as a Trade Association Partner. Copying is a crime which has affected too many of my members and I hope our alliance with ACID illustrates our commitment to fighting design theft. ACID is a formidable organisation and through education and awareness will be advising our members on how they can protect their intellectual property from plagiarism.”

Adds Dids Macdonald, CEO of ACID, ‘Sdea is the 5th trade association to take advantage of ACID’s newly launched Trade Associations module.  Our trade partnership scheme is bespoke according to specific market sectors and includes a discounted group membership fee, seminars, tailored IP advice through regular web and newsletter features, standard tender agreements and IP clinics plus over 30 ACID membership benefits including IP legal advice and the use of the free ACID design bank.  I strongly advise any trade association who is committed to design protection and IP education to talk to ACID.”

Editor’s Notes
ACID is a hard-hitting trade association with a diverse membership ranging from individuals to multinationals and spanning many industry sectors - the organisation is committed to fighting design piracy. Members can access a fast track specialist legal intellectual property hotline for initial free advice and, if relying on unregistered Community or UK design rights, have free and unlimited use of the ACID Design Register. ACID’s key objective – education, focuses on providing a preventative and deterrent IP strategy and a safer commercial trading framework enabling originators to both protect and fully exploit their IP rights. To date There have been 260+ settlements on behalf of ACID members and just over 3 million pounds recovered in costs and damages by its associate lawyers on behalf of members

ACID has handled 2000+ grass roots mediations using the ACID protocol, a free step by step complaint handling system used by ACID accredited exhibition organisers. .ACID LOBBY is an aggressive lobbying group with 4 clear objectives: legislative, moral, commercial and educational.

Liz Wyatt ACID Anti Copying In Design 0845 644 3617 www.acid.uk.com lizw@acid.uk.com