Next steps for the British fashion industry - intellectual property, manufacturing and talent.

Goss-IPgirl, attended the Westminster Media Forum Keynote Seminar on the “Next steps for the British fashion industry – intellectual property, manufacturing and talent,” which provided a lively and fruitful discussion around the legal and commercial challenges and emerging public policy issues facing the British fashion industry.

The discussion took place in the context of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee inquiry, Support for the Creative Industries, and delegates on the panel included notable industry experts such as Caroline Rush, Chief Executive, of the British Fashion Council, John Miln, Chief Executive, of the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT); and Dids Macdonald, Chief Executive Officer, of ACID (Anti Copying in Design) along with a host of IP lawyers.

Sally Britton, Partner, at Mishcon de Reya, chaired part of the event and in her discussion addressed the international challenges surrounding the global enforcement of intellectual property in the fashion industry. Annabelle Gauberti, Founding Partner, of Crefovi addressed IP challenges for the industry, through a series of questions, which also hinged on her experience as a lawyer in both France and the UK. 

Varinder Rehal, Senior Commercial Lawyer, at Asda, gave some practical advice to industry on around the commercial realties of intellectual property rights, enforcement and protection for fashion brands, and made the point that fashion businesses should seek to both understand when they are generating IP and should also seek to align their IP strategy with their business plan. 

Julie Deane, Founder and Owner, of The Cambridge Satchel Company, gave a compelling insight into her experiences as a start-up fashion company. Trying to grow a business and brand and spoke on rights protection, 
and the challenges facing members of the British fashion sector in maintaining and securing their rights both in the UK and abroad. 

Dids Macdonald, Chief Executive Officer, ACID (Anti Copying in Design) made the powerful point that ‘a business plan is not a business plan without an [effective] IP strategy and discussed the work that ACID are doing to support emerging designers against design infringement.

With regard to the events focus on IP and the Fashion industry – The Goss-IP girls notes in the form of a report can be found here: Report on British Fashion Industry & IP. If interested in viewing the seminar agenda this can be accessed here

(Photo source from smittenbybritain)