Had your design copied? Here's what to do next

You've spent months developing a new product, perfecting the design and getting it onto shelves. Then you spot something that looks almost identical, from someone else.

For suppliers across housewares, small electricals, DIY and garden, design copying is a real and costly problem. And when it happens, it's hard to know where to start.

To help answer those questions, Anti Copying in Design (ACID), one of BHETA's Affiliates, is hosting a lunchtime webinar: I've Been Copied! What Do I Do Now? The session is led by ACID's Legal Affiliates, law firm Stevens & Bolton.

What the session covers

This practical session focuses on what designers and creative businesses should actually do when they discover their work has been copied. It will cover:

• The immediate steps to take once you discover a copy
• What evidence to preserve, and how
• Whether, and how, to approach the infringer
• The pros and cons of calling a copier out on social media
• Your options for resolving the issue, from a commercial approach through to letters before action and formal proceedings

Whether you're dealing with a copy right now or want to be prepared if it ever happens, you'll come away knowing your options and your next steps.

About ACID

Anti Copying in Design (ACID) is a membership organisation that helps designers and creative businesses protect their intellectual property. As one of BHETA's Business Support Providers, ACID offers expert guidance to help our members safeguard their designs and respond when copying happens.