LONDON, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- ACID (Anti Copying in Design), the UK's leading voice against design theft, is celebrating it's 10th anniversary, April 9th, with the launch of a national campaign 'MEDIATE TO RESOLVE' - this is a FIRST for the UK's creative industries - a National mediation scheme for designer/manufacturers, pan industry, offering mediation as a real alternative to litigation in intellectual property disputes.
'Mediate to Resolve' is endorsed and supported by Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, Minister for Intellectual Property. Says Baroness Morgan, "I am a firm supporter of mediation as an affordable way for companies to resolve their disputes. The UK-IPO is keen to raise awareness of the availability of mediation and its benefits, and we welcome this initiative from ACID."
Created to offer designer manufactures a real alternative to costly litigation, ACID's Mediate to Resolve provides a highly cost effective and time effective route to dispute resolution bringing parties together with the support of a mediator to resolve alleged copying complaints while avoiding legal intervention.
ACID's Mediate to Resolve panel, chaired by former High Court Judge, Sir Jonathan Parker, provides both ACID members and non members a countrywide network of leading accredited mediators skilled in dispute resolution within the design industry.
"As a Judge, I have seen all too often how parties to a dispute can become locked into litigation when mediation at an early stage might well have resulted in a satisfactory compromise. Having regard to the inevitable cost, time and stress of litigation - to say nothing of the risk of losing the case - mediation must always be worth a try which is why I am so committed to the concept of mediation."
Dids Macdonald, ACID's CEO, has been an outspoken advocator of mediation since the organisation's launch in 1998. Out of the 2,000 grass roots mediations ACID had handled to date only 3 have gone to court. Adds Dids Macdonald, "so often mediation can prevent potential inflammatory legal disputes become realistic out of court settlements where, for example, a commercial agreement can be made. I know of many designers who have walked away from a mediation with a royalty or licence agreement in their pocket rather than a hefty legal bill."
ACID's prime objective is to help designers appreciate and protect their IP equity. "Much of the UK's excellent design talent is being sucked dry by high street copycats and many designer/manufacturers can't afford to fight their case through the courts when their products are ripped off. Our objective is to ensure every designer in the UK understands the value of their IP rights, the multiple benefits of mediation and has access to our Mediate to Resolve service."
ACID Mediation Hotline Tel: +44(0)845-644-3617
About ACID
ACID (Anti Copying in Design) is a hard-hitting trade organisation representing 1000+ companies from 25 different industry sectors. The organisation is committed to fighting intellectual property theft to safeguard innovation and ensure that IP can be fully protected, exploited and commercialised.
http://www.mediatetoresolve.comhttp://www.acid.com http://www.acidnews.infoPress Contact: Liz Wyatt , Communications Director, ACID. Tel +44(0)845-644-3609
liz@acid.co.uk
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