Rise & Design Returns to Leeds

 

Jane Lambert

I introduced Rise & Design in Rise & Design in Marshall's Mill on 28 Feb 2024.  They returned to Marshall's Mill on 7 March 2025 for its monthly meeting on the theme of Growth Through Innovation.  As usual, we had three speakers but, unusually one of them was the Head of Design Networth North, Terry McStea.

Terry demonstrated the power of artificial intelligence in creating designs.  He had instructed an AI system to design a team of robots accepting an award,  The end result was the image that appears above but there were a number of intermediate stages where the robots had extra fingers and other body parts.  All of those systems have to be trained and that is a hot issue in the law with cases like Getty Images (US) Inc and others v Stability AI Ltd [2023] EWHC 3090 (Ch) (1 Dec 2023) trundling through the courts.  HM Government has recently completed a consultation on IP and copyright which I discussed in UK Government Launches Consultation on AI and Copyright on 18 Dec 2024 in NIPC News.

The other speakers were Mike Waldron, Managing Partner of RDD+ and Colette Safhill, Managing Director of Myth Drinks.  RDD+ is a product design and development service which works with some big names.  Mike took us through a number of case studies showing the chain of development from the concept in the client's mind's eye to the finished product.  As that would amount to inventing in some circumstances I asked him whether he or the client would own the right to patent the invention,  He said that it would depend but in many cases, the client would own the intellectual property.  Colette introduced her company and some of her tempting products.  Alas, there were no free samples.  The most intriguing part of her story from my perspective was about a massive competitor who marketed a product with a very similar mark or name.  Apparently, she considered legal action but was advised that it was too risky and too expensive.

Colette left before the end of the meeting which was a shame because Phil Stephenson and Simon Woods of Bailey Walsh were in the audience as well as me and we could have helped her avoid similar problems in the future through trade mark registration and IP insurance,   Phil gave an elevator pitch about his firm and I gave another one on developing a simple IP strategy,

As usual, we had a very congenial and stimulating morning.  Terry chose good speakers and an excellent venue and arranged copious quantities of hot drinks and bacon butties.  Anyone wishing to discuss this article may call me on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or send me a message through my contact form at any time.

CPD Event - "The Intellectual Property Act 2014 - What it means for you and your clients" Leeds 15 Oct 2014

Jane Lambert

On 14 May 2014 the Intellectual Property Bill received royal assent and became an Act. It implements several of Prof Hargreaves's recommendations including implementation of the Council Agreement on the Unified Patent Court, accession to the Hague Agreement and enhancement of the examiner's opinion service for patents and its extension to designs. More controversially it creates for the first time an offence of intentionally copying a registered or registered Community design.  My colleague Alex Rozycki and I gave a presentation on the new Act on the 19 May 2014. I also write my Reflections on the Intellectual Property Act 2014 in our IP and Tech law blog as well as detailed analyses on the effect of the Act on patent, registered designs and unregistered design right law.

There have been two important developments since them. The first is that Lady Neville-Rolfe, the Minister for Intellectual Property, has signed The Intellectual Property Act 2014 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2014 which brings many of the key provisions of the Act into force on 1 Oct 2014. The second (and potentially the more important) is the consultation on the Unified Patent Court which has just closed.

I shall be discussing those developments and much more besides in a talk that I am giving at the Leeds Business and IP Centre on the 15 Oct 2014 at 18:00 as part of Leeds Business Week. This is an in-depth seminar which should be of interest to specialist IP lawyers and patent and trade mark attorneys for which we plan to give SRA, BSB and, if it can be arranged in time, IPReg points. However, it will also be useful for business owners and managers of all descriptions in all industries as well as artists, designers, inventors and investors in start-ups and other high tech businesses.

Space is limited but you can reserve your place now by calling my clerk, George, on 01484 599090 or 020 7404 5252 or sending him a message through his contact form. I look forward to seeing you there.