The Society of British and International Design (SBID) has launched the SBID Intellectual Property (IPP) initiative to protect ownership in the interior design industry.
The new scheme was launched on November 21 at the House of Commons in Westminster, London.
It has been developed in association with TM-Eye, which specialises in investigating intellectual property crime with the aim of assisting the industry to obtain evidence of design ownership, as well as raise awareness of what designers need to do to protect their work.
A new IP register will allow design owners to register their ideas from inception and offer support if they need to bring a criminal charge for IP theft.
The launch was attended by key industry stakeholders, both in the design sector and legislation and policing, which included: Harold Tillman, former president of the British Fashion Council; Suzi Sendama, an associate litigator from Mishcon de Reya LLP; and Detective Chief Superintendent Peter O’Doherty from the City of London Police.