Trade association for designers and manufacturers Anti Copying in Design (ACID) is celebrating its 25^th anniversary of protecting design and intellectual property (IP) rights.

Committed to fighting design theft and lobbying Parliament for design law reform, it provides access to an IP legal hotline for initial free advice for members and use of the ACID IP Databank to hlp protect their intellectual property (IP) Rights.

ACID’s key objectives are protection, deterrence and education, working towards a safer commercial trading framework, enabling originators to maximise their IP rights.

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Co-founded by designer marker Dids Macdonald and IP laywer and partner of Bristows Simon Clark, it has evolved from a round table action group it has grown to be a key influencer in design law reform over many years.

CEO and Co-founder of ACID Dids Macdonald OBE said: “Little did I know that when I was copied so much as a designer it would change the course of my life. I vowed I would try and hold those that steal to account.

“One of the greatest accolades was when one of the directors of a serial retail copyist called me ‘that troublesome woman from ACID’!”

“However, as we look to the future, there is still much to be done to change the pervading culture of design theft.

“UK designers are some of the best in the world and the zeitgeist of tomorrow’s innovation and I look forward to ACID continuing to make waves in the fight for IP respect, ethics, and compliance.

“My thanks go to Simon Clark for being such a champion for change in the early days and to Nick Kounoupias, ACID’s legal counsel for his tireless dedication and advocacy for ACID members and the broader design community’s IP rights.”