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The Knowledge - The Resource - Information/IP protection

Invention and patent protection
Protecting your invention is one thing. Then you need to enforce your rights! See Intellectual Design Protection under Insurance.
ACID
Anti-Copying In Design is a hard-hitting action group committed to fighting copyright theft.
PO Box 5078, Gloucester, GL19 3YB
T: 0845 644 3617
F: 0845 644 3618
W: www.acid.uk.com
Brand Licensing
Brand Licensing Trade Fair.
W: www.brandlicensingexpo.com
British Inventors Society (BIS)
Leads inventors and innovators, academics and entrepreneurs who share a common belief - that invention is the vital spark that drives the world's technology.
T: 0870 432 8111
W: www.thebis.org
British Female Inventors & Innovators Network
The British Female Inventors and Innovators Awards were established in 1999 to provide inspiration for women seeking to turn their unique ideas into commercial propositions.
W: www.bfiin.com
British Library
Access to the world's greatest patent resources.
W: www.bl.uk/collections/patents
Chartered Institute of Patent Agents
It offers free half-hour advice clinics (by appointment only) for inventors with one of their registered patent agents. It also provides free information packs on their members and the kind of service they offer.
95 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1DT, UK
T: 020 7405 9450
F: 020 7430 0471
E: mail@cipa.org.uk
W: www.cipa.org.uk
C H Kendall
Product sourcing and manufacturing in China, India and other Asian markets.
W: www.chkendall.co.uk
Delphion
Gives you access to the patent information you need - and the tools to help you take advantage of it.
W: www.delphion.com
Design Council
The Design Council demonstrates and promotes the role of design in the UK via campaigns, research and development and a range of support services.
W: www.design-council.org.uk
Design Trust
The Design Trust promotes the excellence of British design and helps designers with business training after they leave college.
W: www.thedesigntrust.co.uk
Dyson
Practical guidance for inventors from James Dyson.
W: www.dyson.com/invent
East London Inventors Club
Run by inventors as a confidential place to meet and work with other inventors, join an invention short course, network and become a member of the Knowledge Dock.
W: www.eastlondoninventorsclub.com
EC21
Global product sourcing and trade leads.
W: www.ec21.com
Ecademy
Innovation Pipeline Club(IPC) is an umbrella for a dynamic network of associates that have a collective desire and ability to bring new products to market.
W: www.ecademy.com
Exhibitions
Complete list of all trade and consumer shows in the UK.
W: www.exhibitions.co.uk
Global Ideas Bank
Global suggestion box for socially innovative, non-technological ideas and projects.
W: www.globalideasbank.org
Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWIIN)
A global network which aims to increase the number of innovative women embracing enterprise.
W: www.gwiin.com
Idea Finder
Ideas and inventors resources.
W: www.ideafinder.com
Industry Week
Data on outsourcing distribution.
W: www.IndustryWeek.com
Information protection
If you keep information about identifiable individuals, you may need to notify the Information Commissioner's Office. Whether or not you need to do this, all businesses must comply with the eight principles laid down in the Data Protection Act 1998. Data on individuals must be:
  • Fairly and lawfully processed;
  • Used for limited purposes;
  • Adequate, relevant and not excessive;
  • Accurate;
  • Kept only as long as necessary;
  • Processed in line with the subject's rights;
  • Not transferred to countries that don't have adequate protection;
  • Secure. The responsibility for security rests with you. Even inadvertent disclosure of personal information could mean you are liable to pay compensation to the person concerned.
You may only carry out data processing where one of the following conditions has been met:
  • The individual concerned has given their consent;
  • The processing is necessary to fulfil a contract with the person;
  • It is to protect the person's vital interests;
  • It is to comply with a particular law;
  • It is in the legitimate interests of the business (unless this adversely affects the individual).
It is a criminal offence to break the law on data protection.

For a range of useful free information booklets or to register, contact the Information Commissioner's Office direct. The registration fee is £35/year.
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF, UK
T: 01625 545 745 Helpline
F: 01625 524 510
W: www.ico.gov.uk
Inkopo
Specialists in early-stage, technology-based, enterprise development.
W: www.inkopo.co.uk
Innovate Product Design
A site dedicated to helping individual inventors with their inventions and helping with patenting for new inventions where required.
W: www.innovate-design.co.uk
Innovation at the DTI
Promoting innovation throughout the UK economy.
W: www.dti.gov.uk
Innovation logbook
An Innovation Logbook for use by engineers, students, researchers, inventors and innovators throughout the UK. Your record of intellectual property.
W: www.innovationlogbook.gov.uk
Innovator's Counselling and Advisory Service for Scotland (ICASS)
Help with developing and protecting new inventions, products, services, and processes.
W: www.icass.co.uk
Inspired Recycling
Inspired Recycling provides tailored assistance for designers, inventors and entrepreneurs wanting to design and manufacture products from recycled materials.
W: www.inspiredrecycling.org
Institute of Patentees and Inventors
Provides information and advice for lone inventors. Members also include patent agents, marketeers and others who can offer advice on intellectual property rights, originality searching, manufacturing practices, presentation techniques, funding and other subjects relating to the exploitation of an invention.
PO Box 39296, London, SE3 7WH
T: 0871 226 2091
F: 0208 293 5920
E: ipi@invent.org.uk
W: www.invent.org.uk
Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys
ITMA is the professional body for trade mark attorneys in the United Kingdom. Registration of trade marks can be complicated so it pays to get advice from a trade mark attorney. Excellent website with how to register, why register, international marks, infringement and passing off. The site also allows you to find members by region.
Canterbury House, 2-6 Sydenham Rd, Croydon, Surrey, CRO 9XE
T: 020 8686 2052
W: www.itma.org.uk
Intellectual Property Advisory Committee - IPAC
A high level body formed to give high level independent advice to Government on intellectual property issues.
W: www.intellectual-property.gov.uk
Intellectual Property Portal
The Government-backed home of UK intellectual property on the Internet. It answers all your questions and provides all the resources you need to find your way through the IP jungle of copyright, designs, patents, trade marks and domain names.
W: www.intellectual-property.gov.uk
International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property
The World's leading non-government organisation for research into, and formulation of policy for, the law relating to the protection of intellectual property.
W: www.aippi.org
Inventors' Alliance of Canada
The Inventors' Alliance is a non-profit association dedicated to helping inventors develop their business through education, recognition, friendship and support.
W: www.inventorsalliance.com
Inventors' Friend
Service for UK inventors.
W: www.inventorsfriend.co.uk
IP Wales
Ways and means to protect and exploit intellectual property.
W: www.ipwales.com
Ivell
Buy risk-free from China. Global product sourcing.
W: www.ivell.com
Kiwi Ingenuity
Guide to the ten steps for a successful invention.
W: www.kiwiingenuity
Nesta
NESTA works to increase the UK's capacity for innovation.
W: www.nesta.org
Next Level Purchasing
Learn sourcing and purchasing topics online. Get a free skills report.
W: www.NextLevelPurchasing.com
Ownit
Creative intellectual property advice service. Free resources and events on intellectual property, including copyright, design rights, trademarks, patents and licences. Includes free sample legal contracts.
W: www.own-it.org
Patent Office
It provides a range of free literature, fact sheets and forms to register patents, trade marks, designs and copyright. The Patent Office's website now includes an extensive database, which helps you to determine the status of UK patents, trademarks and designs. It also gives you access to patent applications published in the past two years by the UK and other major national European Offices, the European Patent Office and the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
Concept House, Cardiff Road, Newport NP10 8QQ, UK
T: 0845 9 500 505 (enquiries); Minicom: 0845 9 222 250
F: 01633 813 600
E: enquiries@patent.gov.uk
W: www.patent.gov.uk
Persevere Engineering Solutions Ltd
Provides feasibility studies, first-prototyping services and promotional opportunities to inventors and small businesses at minimum cost.
W: www.workingmodel.co.uk
Think Inc
Protecting an idea for a new business.
W: www.think-inc.co.uk
Trade Show
Listing 800 trade shows worldwide.
W: www.TradeShow.GlobalSources.com
Trevor Baylis Brands plc
Inventor Trevor Baylis offers his advice and ideas.
W: www.trevorbaylisbrands.com
Two Little Ducks
Lots of advice and support for UK inventors.
W: www.two-little-ducks.co.uk
UK Trader
Huge directory of UK wholesalers.
W: www.theuktrader.co.uk
Wales Innovators' Network
Support service for individual innovators and inventors.
W: www.win4wales.com
Wessex Round Table of Inventors.
The Wessex Round Table of Inventors (WRTI) is a club formed by and for inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs - whether lone beginners or experienced professionals
W: www.wrti.org.uk
WIPO
Online intellectual property library.
W: www.wipo.int
Working Model
Provides feasibility studies, first prototyping services and promotional opportunities to inventors and small businesses at minimum cost.
W: www.workingmodel.co.uk
Young Engineering
Engineering website with section on protecting your ideas.
W: www.youngeng.org

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