In 2010 SBID launched the protection of Intellectual Property (IP) awareness campaign to inform consumers, manufacturers and buyers of the costs surrounding copyright theft. By direct invitation, SBID has now submitted the gathered evidence directly to the Ministry.
March 2012
Government consultation on Copyright and Anti Competition
The Government’s consultation on copyright, addressed the regulatory impact and costs to business of the proposals to impose statutory codes on collective licensing societies, and to introduce new exceptions.
The initial assessments will be reviewed in the light of evidence collected during the consultation process. SBID participated in this process and is pro-active in the Government’s continuing research programme. The consultation published in December 2011 was accompanied by a set of initial impact assessments; the public outcome to date is available from the Intellectual Property Office website.
The government Ministry for Fair Trade agrees that whatever reorganisation of the competition authorities is to take place in the future, adequate resources must be made available to ensure that there is effective combating of price-fixing cartels and other anti-competitive practices.
The record shows that, on the matter of liability as distinct from the precise amount of penalty, the OFT has been upset on appeal to the Competition Appeal Tribunal only relatively rarely. It has admittedly been told by the Competition Appeal Tribunal that the amount of penalty is sometimes too large and has been reduced.
Last year, and I think the year before, the OFT brought in some £60 million to the Exchequer from fines. Fines that had been upheld by the Competition Appeal Tribunal! SBID has been actively involved in the programme to review and reform faults in the current system of interior design and propose methods for improvement over the past three years. The SBID report has been submitted.
The Office of Fair Trading is of course an independent body and is best placed to balance the work that it does; it is not the Government’s place to tell it what to do. However, it is almost impossible for the ordinary consumer trying to deal with the combination of the OFT, Consumer Focus, Consumer Direct, the CBA and the Competition Commission to know where to go when there is an issue and this requires further clarity.
With the restructuring coming, the department must decide where change will take place. It will shortly put some real clarity on its website to direct people under the current structure and with some clear indication where restructuring is going to take us.
The Government will reveal their conclusion in the next few weeks after the finalisation of the consultation…… watch here!
January 2012
SBID’s IP Campaign is supported by: The Late Robin Gibb CBE CBE, Adam Morallee of Mishcon de Reya.
The Late Robin Gibb CBE is a British born citizen who has created and donated hundreds of millions of pounds for Britain and its economy. With his brothers they formed the Bee Gees one of the world’s top three most successful music composers, singers and musicians. Robin has campaigned much of his life for talented but unoticed or unsung heroes, the creators and sectors of industry and defence that are often forgotten. The Late Robin Gibb CBE gave his support to SBID as Ambassador for Intellectual Property.
Adam Morallee is regarded as a leader in the field of Intellectual Property, advising on copyright, trademark and regulatory disputes. He is a Partner of leading law firm, Mishcon de Reya with a team of forty, an international reputation that is supported by global clients of industry in sport, technology, design product and interior design.
• Advising Gucci, Lacoste, Speedo and a variety of other well-known brands on day to day intellectual property and regulatory issues.
• Advising Microsoft on various trade mark and copyright actions including the well-publicised judgment in Microsoft v Ling & Others.
• Advising Leyton Orient on their challenge to the award of the Olympic Stadium to West Ham
Mishcon de Reya is one of the UK’s leading law firms, it excels in business. Here is a small but representative selection of their clients: • American Express • British Land Plc • Christian Louboutin • Microsoft • Dell • Foxtons • Gucci Group • Harvey Nichols • Universal Music Group
Often to our detriment, even when we partner with a third party, if their conduct breaches this fundamental right, we will and have severed our business link. It is this overriding value that ensures SBID does not falter, does not dilute what we represent in our members and remains true to our values. A kite-mark organisation of standards to the profession of designers and the design industry. SBID is …designed for business.
Coming soon: An announcement of how SBID has progressed in the House of Commons, the House of Lords and at the Bank of England in strict confidence over the past three years on the issues facing Anti-competition and copyright theft within the interior design sector in Britain. The press release will include those involved who have been instrumental in the changes that will come about surrounding the law of Intellectual Property in Britain for the future. There are some surprising companies involved!
December 2011
I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You
Dear SBID members,
I’m sure I speak for all of you when I wish our Ambassador The Late Robin Gibb CBE a speedy recovery from his ill health. Robin, as you will know, accepted the role of protecting the creative rights for British interior designers following his many years of fighting the corner for artists globally as President of CISAC. Unfortunately just before his scheduled appearance in Paris to present the SBID International Design Awards he became ill and was instructed by doctors not to travel.
This was particularly unfortunate as during August he had recorded the song (a new version of ‘I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You’ originally No1 in 1968) which was chosen as the official song for this year’s British Legion Poppy Appeal with The Soldiers (Actual Servicemen fresh from tours of duty in war zones such as Afghanistan).
Not wanting to let down the servicemen and their families he made brave attempts to complete as many scheduled appearances in support of the release but had to cancel an appearance with Prime Minister David Cameron in Downing St among others.
On December 5th Warner Music release ‘No1′s’ to coincide with Robin, with his brother Barry being the subject of an ITV 1 special on Dec 9th called The Nation’s Favourite Bee Gees Songs.
His first foray into the classical genre is A Requiem For Titanic composed with his son Robin John and recorded with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is due to be released to coincide with the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of The Titanic in 1912. A premiere is scheduled for the same time in early April.
Many of our members are global leaders and know that wp-content/2012 will present many challenges all, but Robin announced he will still be our proud Ambassador. We all look forward to a healthy and prosperous year ahead and in the meantime he wishes you a very happy Christmas.
Vanessa Brady
SBID President
October 2011
Short questionnaire on the Use of design related intellectual property in the UK
“As part of the Government’s response to the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property and Growth the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is seeking to build the evidence base surrounding the use of design IP. The responses to this survey, together with a ‘call for evidence’ and other economic evidence which the IPO is commissioning, will help shape proposals to improve the UK design system. These will be set out in a formal consultation on the UK design system, due to take place by summer wp-content/2012.
In this survey, we are aiming to understand how firms use design registrations. All data provided will be treated as strictly confidential and in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Neither you nor your company will be named in any public reports produced from this work.”
October 2011
Official Statement from The Late Robin Gibb CBE CBE, SBID IP Ambassador
“The Late Robin Gibb CBE accompanied by his wife Dwina, was taken to the Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford on Thursday 13th October 2011 to undergo tests for abdominal pain and is being treated for inflammation of the colon.
He requests that since this is a difficult time for him and his family his privacy be respected. Robin would like to thank all his friends and fans for their good wishes and sends them his love.
The Late Robin Gibb CBE”
August 2011
Culture MP supports SBID and Gibb as key Standards advocates MP John Whittingdale took some time out of chairing the parliamentary phone hacking inquiry to promote culture at the Apollo and show his support for two key Standards advocates of the Creative Industries.
In August MP for Malden and chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport committee John Whittingdale attended a representation of Yes, Prime Minister at the Apollo with The Late Robin Gibb CBE CBE, member of The Bee Gees and President of CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), and Vanessa Brady, President of SBID (Society of British Interior Design).
The party enjoyed the brilliant political play in the West End, and even struck a pose with the cast at the end of the sell-out performance.
As President of CISAC, a global organisation for the protection of copyright to the arts, The Late Robin Gibb CBE has added star power to CISAC’s advocacy work. Representing three million creators worldwide, Robin’s letters and speeches in favour of authors’ rights have helped to halt detrimental legislation or protect creators’ rights in Brazil, Chile, Croatia, India and Serbia.
Robin is also the Ambassador for SBID’s Intellectual Property protection campaign. He said: “I have a good relationship with John on the very important matters concerning copyright legislation, but it’s also good to have some light relief like this evening.”
Vanessa Brady – whose standard-bearing organisation is the UK’s leading for the profession of interior design in Britain and represents members in practice, higher education and industry – said: “Besides the very serious side of business, what we deliver is in the creative industries of art, design and theatre. It’s important to support each other, all the industries have similar issues and together we hope to make a difference.”
Vanessa Brady, The Late Robin Gibb CBE and MP John Whittingdale pose together, and with Yes, Prime Minister cast (right)
July 2011
SBID’s IP Ambassador, The Late Robin Gibb CBE, addressed the World Copyright Summit in Brussels last month and spoke with an immense understanding and knowledge of copyright issues facing the creative industries on a global stage.
SBID launched the copyright protection campaign to promote and protect design in Britain as a valuable form of income not only to the design inventor, but to the British government as a highly valuable commodity and income generator.
Too much of British talent is replicated overseas without protection or payment for the original design to the creator. This is totally unacceptable, especially when this commodity forms the livelihood for over 185,000 designers in Britain. In addition to the original design idea, additional investment into research and technology by product designers, architects and manufacturer adds further risk to the design sector and if protection cannot be created, investment into this booming area of growth for Britain is at risk.
Robin, a British born citizen who resides in Oxford, understands such unfairness. As the most successful composer and singer in British history with the largest library in the world of hits over five decades no other singer or songwriter – not even Lennon or The Beetles – has achieved more than the Bee Gees. He has successfully led campaigns across the world to protect musicians, composers and the music industries rights successfully.
SBID is working on knowledge share with the successes of the music industry where appropriate to see what synergies apply to design manufacture and how the existing problems can be rectified simply by putting in place structured procedures for payment.
SBID has fast become the British standard bearer destination for design practitioners and suppliers to the industry able to meet the assured quality criteria.
As such, Vanessa Brady, President of SBID said: “We are very proud to have the support of Robin, he not only understands the issues the interior design industry face when intellectual property and design is stolen, he also cares passionately about the creative arts and has successfully campaigned across the world to change copyright law in several countries to change the injustice that in 2011 still exists in interior design.
“We have consulted with as many copyright protection bodies and organisations as we are aware of in the interior design sector. SBID is simply trying to address issues that will damage the prosperity of our members and the British design industry. SBID is engaged with MPs, government destinations and privately sponsored companies on several areas to create change. We commenced a national research programme to measure Market forces.”
The Late Robin Gibb CBE and Vanessa Brady
June 2011
In 2009 SBID began campaigning at the House of Commons to protect Intellectual Property for Interior Design, listing the problem of non-payment for creative arts and skills. The government has listened and are fully engaged to support the SBID campaign.
The Minister of Business Innovation and Skills, Barroness Wilcox and the British Intellectual Property Office (IPO) have backed the SBID campaign.
Vanessa Brady, SBID President, said: “SBID can finally pull all the strands together, this project has taken an enormous amount of work behind the scenes and would not have happened without the support of The Late Robin Gibb CBE and his team, his influence and that of the British IPO and parliament will lead to a positive change in legislation for designers across Britain.”
Baroness Wilcox and the IPO concede piracy and poor duplication of great British design costs UK billions of pounds per year in cost revenue and that means money from the pockets of our members. SBID is delighted to have obtained the support of such influential individual representatives and bodies.
April 2009
Today, SBID is proud to confirm that The Late Robin Gibb CBE, CBE, has accepted their invitation to become an Ambassador due to his ceaseless commitment to protect the rights of creators across all genres.
As President of CISAC (the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, a global organisation for the protection of copyright to the arts) since June 2007, Robin has added star power to CISAC’s advocacy work.
Representing three million creators worldwide, Robin’s letters and speeches in favour of authors’ rights inevitably attract the attention of the global media and have helped to halt detrimental legislation or protect creators’ rights in Brazil, Chile, Croatia, India and Serbia.
