Taylors backs designers on World IP day

By Taylors Solicitors

26 Apr 2021

Commercial law firm Taylors Solicitors today threw its weight behind a campaign to protect designers against the scourge of copying amid a sharp rise in the number of infringements during the pandemic.

The niche north west practice is a legal affiliate of campaign group Anti Copying in Design (ACID) and is the only firm from the region on its panel.

ACID, a trade association for designers and manufacturers whose members range from individuals to multinationals, fights design theft and lobbies for design law reform.

The group is today backing World Intellectual Property Day, which is celebrated by the World Intellectual Property Office to highlight the role that intellectual property rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity and their importance in stimulating innovation and growth.

World IP Day has backing from parliamentarians, business leaders and designers as it shines a light on how SMEs can use their IP assets to build stronger, more competitive and resilient businesses and create jobs.

Tony Catterall, senior partner and head of intellectual property at Taylors Solicitors, said the firm was supporting the occasion amid an upsurge in its caseload involving design infringements worldwide.

He said: “The proliferation of web-only fakes is a growing trend we have identified in advising clients in the textiles and home furnishings sector as we emerge from Covid-19. Instructions to our team have more than doubled as a result of these infringements over recent months.

“Sales have been booming during the pandemic for those clients who have moved fast to sell online or to supply those who do, as customers buy their wall coverings, textiles and soft furnishings via the internet rather than from bricks and mortar stores.

“We have seen a major increase in instructions from clients with claims against infringers seeking to exploit the move to web sales by offering copies of clients’ original products from multiple shop fronts on the internet, including Amazon and eBay.

“The problem has been exacerbated by people working from home, with infringers using bedroom sellers to set up web stores, who when confronted naively protest they are only trying to supplement their income.

“We are currently involved in claims for numerous furniture distributors, textile and wallpaper manufacturers who recognise the need to move fast to protect their brands and their IP.

“To assist them, we have been able to swiftly get copied products removed from web platforms, often within 24 hours of the issue being identified, curbing online infringements in the UK, Europe, United States and wherever on the planet that our clients’ IP rights extend to.

“World IP Day is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the scourge of IP infringements and the impact it has on individuals and businesses across the globe.”

Dids Macdonald, chief executive of ACID, said: “Flag-flying for the UK’s incredibly talented designers on World IP Day emphasises the importance of design and design protection as we negotiate new trade deals.

“The UK’s designers need to be assured of a much stronger and more robust UK enforcement system now the UK designers have lost the all-important automatic EU Unregistered Community Design protection in EU27, post Brexit. We will also continue to press government for criminal provisions for unregistered design infringement against IP theft.”

Latest news

1

Panache Cruises on course for further growth with support from Rosebud James Cole

Panache Cruises on course for further growth with support from Rosebud

03 Jul 2025

2

Lancashire emerges as key player in UK's Defence and Tech Sector Mo Isap Chair Of The Lancashire Business Board Nick Miles National Cyber Force Deputy Director For Samlesbury Annette Weekes Representative Of The NWRDSC

Lancashire emerges as key player in UK's Defence and Tech Sector

03 Jul 2025

3

Report shows impact of BAE Systems in Lancashire BAE Systems Radar

Report shows impact of BAE Systems in Lancashire

02 Jul 2025

4

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans Waste recycling Blackpool

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans

01 Jul 2025

5

Graham Engineering confirms sale to a2e Industries Graham Engineering

Graham Engineering confirms sale to a2e Industries

01 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Blackburn Cathedral hosts Champagne and Diamonds Event with Ainsworth Jewellers
Champagne-Jewellery 10 07 25_page-0001.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
10 Jul 2025 - 10 Jul 2025

Blackburn Cathedral hosts Champagne and Diamonds Event with Ainsworth Jewellers

Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn, BB1 5AA

18:00 - 20:30

Choose Chorley for Business - Talent Reimagined Business Breakfast
talentreimaginedbb.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Jul 2025 - 10 Jul 2025

Choose Chorley for Business - Talent Reimagined Business Breakfast

Strawberry Fields Digital Hub, Chorley, PR71PS

08:00 - 10:30

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past
1750160034867.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jul 2025 - 16 Jul 2025

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin