A conference organised by Anti-Copying in Design (ACID) and Alliance for Intellectual Property titled ‘3D Printing: Identifying the Opportunities and Exploring the IP Challenges’ explored the technology of 3D printing, the opportunities it brings about and the potential gaps that key stakeholders should be aware in the context of Intellectual Property (IP) Law. The event included presentations and panel discussions with the audience, led by industry leaders and IP specialists in the creative industries.
Professor Dinusha Mendis delivered a keynote speech on the ‘Legal and Empirical Study into the IP Implications of 3D Printing’ at the event. The keynote was based on her completed commissioned project for the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) in 2015 and her on-going AHRC funded project titled ‘Going for Gold’ exploring the copyright, contractual and licensing implications arising from 3D scanning, 3D printing and mass customisation of ancient and modern jewellery.
Anti-Copying in Design (ACID) is a membership trade organisation, set up as a round table action group in 1996, by designers for designers. ACID is committed to raising awareness and encouraging respect for IP and in helping its members to understand and protect their rights, ACID is intent on stamping out intellectual property rights abuse.
Alliance for IP represents trade associations across the creative, branded and design industries concerned with ensuring that IP rights are valued in the UK. Its members include representatives of the audiovisual, music, games and business software, and sports industries, branded manufactured goods, publishers, retailers and designers
Other panelists on the day included Dids MacDonald (ACID), Nick Kounoupias (Chief Legal Counsel, ACID); Tony Pluckrose (Partner, Boult Wade Tennant), Rodeny McMahon (Morgan Contract Furniture); Bryan Austin (Director and General Manager, Dental Products at Renishaw); Eddy Leviten (Director General, Alliance for IP), Kieron Sharp (Director General, Federation Against Copyright Theft), DI Mick Dodge (Deputy Head, Police IP Crime Unit), Gwilym Harbottle (Hogarth Chambers) and Florian Koempel (Copyright Consultant).
