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Press Release: New Free Intellectual Property Advice Sessions With London Lawyers
Added: (Tue Nov 15 2005)
November 2005, London, UK: Own It (www.own-it.org), the intellectual
property advice service for London's creative people, is offering its
members the chance to get up to 45 minutes with an IP lawyer
absolutely free!
The new free one-to-one advice clinics with lawyers have been set up
so that creative people and entrepreneurs can get specialist and
expert help with any aspect of intellectual property including contracts,
licensing agreements, patents, copyright issues and clearances.
According to the Design Council, only 3% of design consultancies receive
royalties from Intellectual Property rights, while a recent national
survey indicated that UK small businesses are potentially wasting time
developing new products and ideas - because they don‘t protect
them. 79% of survey respondents did not know how copyright and
patent protection works, with 74% operating without any form of
Intellectual, Patent or Copyright protection. Evidently, there is a
genuine need for advice on this subject.
"These new Own It IP clinics will enable small creative businesses to
have access to the sort of legal expertise that is usually prohibited by
its cost, but which is crucial to the development, growth and value of
their business," explains Marice Cumber, Project Director of Own It.
Own It membership is completely free. To sign up as an Own It member
and have access to the IP clinics visit www.own-it.org
There are six prestigious and specialist creative industry law firms who
have agreed to provide their services to Own It and are taking part in
the free Own It IP clinics. These are Bevan Brittan, Bird and Bird,
Briffa, Finers Stephens Innocent, Harbottle and Lewis and Howreys.
The Own It Free IP Legal Advice Clinics will take place at the Own It
offices at the University of the Arts London (LCC).
As well as the new free IP advice clinics, Own It run free intellectual
property seminars and workshops across London and provides e-mail
advice to members, while the website (www.own-it.org) contains 270
free sample contracts, factsheets and a detailed FAQ section.
:: Notes For Editors ::
ABOUT OWN IT
Creative people are constantly being innovative and making new
products that have value in themselves, their potential and their
intellectual property .Knowing how to protect, make money and
capitalise from that intellectual property is key to the development
and growth of the creative industries through patents, licensing,
trademarks, design registrations and collaborative ventures.
Own It has been set up by The University of the Arts London and
Creative London to provide London's creative people and businesses
with the relevant knowledge, skills and support so that they can become
more active in the management of their intellectual property and begin
to be rewarded by its value.
Own It is a free service that partners with law firms, government,
professional and trade agencies.
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
Defined as advertising, architecture, art and antiques, crafts, design,
designer fashion, film and video, interactive leisure software, music,
performing arts, publishing, software and computer services, TV and
radio.
*Grew by an average of 6% over 1997 to 2003, against 3% for economy
for the whole economy
*Contributed £11.6bn (4.1%) to UK exports in 2003
*Employed 1 million people in summer 2004
Source: Department of Culture, Media amd Sport estimates, October
2005.
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