Reviewed 22 June 2010

Protecting your ideas and inventions

Free Business Advice Seminar

Business in North Wales can access free advice on protecting their innovations and ideas at an intellectual property help session.

The Intellectual Property Office will be holding a free business advice seminar, Protecting Your Ideas and Inventions on Wednesday 23 June in St Asaph.

The event, which is supported by the Welsh Assembly Government, will offer advice on protecting as well as exploiting intellectual property and will be relevant to artists, inventors, sole traders or small businesses.

The seminar brings together a team of IP experts and professionals from a number of organisations to provide free expert help and advice.

A key part of the day is the chance to book a free one-to-one session with either a patent attorney or design expert to discuss any IP issues. Places are limited and booking is essential.

Local businessman, Steve Kelly, founder of SmartKem Ltd, will talk about his experience of using intellectual property to help his business grow.

Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, Lesley Griffiths, has encouraged businesses to take advantage of the seminar;

"It is a great opportunity for companies to learn more about Intellectual Property, the value of IP to a business, how to protect it and maximise these assets. The experts are on hand to provide tailored advice to companies that is free of charge and I would urge businesses to take advantage of the seminar."

Robin Webb, Innovation Director, Intellectual Property Office said:

"To reap maximum rewards from their creations it’s essential that businesses back up their innovations with the necessary IP protection. This IP advice seminar provides a one-stop shop for local people and businesses in North Wales by providing practical advice and business support.

"For anyone not able to attend the seminar I would encourage them to use our improved free online diagnostic tool, the IP Health Check, to help identify, protect and exploit their intellectual property assets."

Steve Kelly, founder of SmartKem Ltd said:

"For any business with valuable knowledge, it is not just about filing patents. A viable IP strategy should involve many considerations such as research protocols, freedom to operate, threat of competition and of course IP protection using patents, copyright, trademarks etc.

"SmartKem has worked successfully with the Welsh Assembly Government in the last few years to secure R&D grants. These grants were only possible when the company was able to demonstrate to the Assembly that adequate IP planning processes were in place to protect its ongoing commercial viability."

Dids Macdonald CEO of ACID (Anti Copying in Design) added,

"Whilst it is important to back up innovation with the necessary IP protection, this should go hand in hand with the communication of a sound IP strategy via all media platforms. There are also many low cost and no cost practical ways businesses can put belt and braces around one of their most valuable assets, their intellectual property".

The seminar takes place on Wednesday, 23 June at the Technium Optic, St Asaph, and runs from 09:00 to 13:00.

There will be presentations from IP experts Gary Townley from the Intellectual Property Office and Nia Roberts Innovation Manager from the Welsh Assembly Government, IP professional Robert Gregory of WP Thompson & Co a member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and design expert Dids Macdonald CEO of ACID (Anti-Copying in Design).

Notes to editors

Event details

Wednesday, 23 June 2010, 09:00 - 13:00, Tea/Coffee provided

Technium Optic
Ffordd William Morgan,
St Asaph Business Park,
St Asaph,
Denbighshire,
LL17 0JD

For more information please contact Sarah Challenger +44 (0) 1633 814305 or Matthew Navarra +44 (0) 1633 813813.

  • The Intellectual Property Office is within the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills and responsible for the national framework of Intellectual Property rights, comprising patents, designs, trade marks and copyright.
  • Its role is to help manage an IP system that encourages innovation and creativity, balances the needs of consumers and users, promotes strong and competitive markets and is the foundation of the knowledge based economy.
  • It operates in a national and an international environment and its work is governed by national and international law, including various international treaties relating to IP to which the United Kingdom is a party.
  • Business Innovation support is part of the Welsh Assembly Government's Flexible Support for Business and is part financed by the European Union's Convergence European Regional Development Fund and Welsh Assembly Government.
  • Business Innovation support is available to help businesses and individuals:

    - create and commercialise new products and processes
    - increase efficiency in manufacturing through technology & process improvement
    - introduce design for new product development and manufacture
    - identify, protect and exploit intellectual property

  • The £36 million pound project will provide an integrated package of support on Innovation, Design and Manufacturing to help companies identify opportunities for business improvement and growth. In the current economic climate it is more important than ever before that we help businesses and innovators to develop the new products and processed that Wales will need to be competitive in the future.
  • WEFO is part of the Welsh Assembly Governments Department for the Economy and Transport and it is responsible for administering European Structural Funds in Wales.
  • ACID (Anti Copying in Design) is a not for profit membership organisation, committed to raising awareness about intellectual property theft within the creative industries and encouraging respect for intellectual property within corporate social responsibility. ACID's powerful logo is a real symbol of deterrence, actively helping its members protect against the potentially devastating damage inflicted by IP infringement. To date, ACID Accredited Law Firms have achieved over £3million in costs and damages in over 400 settlements. ACID on-line newsroom help@acid.uk.uk t: 0845 644 3617

Date of release: 22 June 2010