ACID launches an online brand enforcement service

Supported by the UK Government and the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), Anti Copying in Design (ACID) forges ahead in its continuing fight against IP infringement with the launch of a cost effective brand enforcement service to help its members fight design theft online.

Why? Because of the time, expense and debilitating effect that blatant online infringement has on micro and SME businesses, which is fast becoming a real everyday challenge, especially for design-led organisations. This seemingly insidious and anonymous means of design theft, with few deterrents, makes taking the fast track to market an easy route and is difficult to challenge with the apparent lack of effective redress by some online platforms for speedy takedown.

View a short video on how to use the service on our website here

Ros Lynch, IP Enforcement Director at the UK Intellectual Property Office, said: “Online infringement can be extremely damaging, especially for small businesses. Too often they cannot commit resources towards enforcing their IP rights. Innovative SMEs are the lifeblood of the UK economy. Everything possible should be done to protect valuable IP and to create an environment where creativity and hard work is rewarded, not stolen. Services such as this should be warmly welcomed as part of the fight against IP crime.”

DCI Peter Ratcliffe, Head of the City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), said: “PIPCU is happy to support ACID in this new endeavour. It is vitally important that Small and Medium Enterprises intellectual property rights are protected so they are given the opportunity to grow and flourish. ACIDS Brand Enforcement Services (ABES) provides an effective tool for small business in the fight against IP crime.”

ACID’s CEO Dids Macdonald, OBE, added: “Not only are we now providing this valuable new brand enforcement service at grass roots we are also talking to senior management on online platforms to ensure that the systems for take down and track down are improved and become less impenetrable to access quickly and effectively.”