Hargreaves Sets Scene for DMH Stallard Manufacturing IP Report
A full copy of DMH Stallard's report is available to download for free here
The result of a major study into the IP challenges faced by UK manufacturers has been unveiled at a special event in London.
The report, by leading law firm DMH Stallard, is based on interviews with directors of major UK manufacturing businesses operating globally – and details how best to protect high value design and process innovations and how to overcome potential pitfalls.
With the publication of the Hargreaves Report on the same day, that makes recommendations for reform of the UK’s copyright laws, the importance and value of ensuring IP best practice is firmly in the spotlight.
David Seall, former CEO of EEF South and now DMH Stallard’s strategic manufacturing adviser who led the study comments,
“As the Hargreaves report states, innovation is crucial to the UK’s competitive edge – and so we need to ensure that manufacturers who invest millions of pounds every year in new ideas, concepts, designs and processes can operate internationally confident that their IP rights will be protected."
“This is particularly important for the UK because all the recent analysis confirms that engineering and manufacturing companies are leading the way out of recession – our report looks specifically at the issues driving IP strategy within the manufacturing sector and outlines what is regarded as current best practice by industry.”
DMH Stallard, which has offices in London and Gatwick, conducted interviews with a number of well-known and successful manufacturing businesses. Issues discussed included safeguarding unique processes and products, using patent protection globally and managing knowledge in the workplace.
DMH Stallard’s Managing Partner, Tim Aspinall commented,
“Every company interviewed was fully aware of the need to develop and implement an IP strategy – this report takes a look at how these strategies are being implemented and as such it will be an essential touch-point for all manufacturing businesses, particularly in light of the recommendations made by Hargreaves when it comes to operating internationally.”
At the special launch event, an invited audience shared the issues surrounding copyright, trade marks and design and discussed how companies can best go about developing an IP strategy that offers appropriate protection in key markets.
The panel, chaired by David Seall, DMH Stallard Strategic Adviser – Manufacturing, comprised Gordon Day, Operations Director at Williams Hybrid Power, Geoff Edwards, UK Vice President of Operations for Bowers and Wilkins, Ian Lucas MP, Shadow Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Tim Ashdown, Partner and Head of IP & IT at DMH Stallard.
Commented Tim Ashdown: “As with the report, this debate highlighted that an effective IP strategy is not only about having appropriate legal protection in place, it is also about ensuring that IP value is properly understood and reflected in the culture of the business.”
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