Image by Latvian Design Centre
Workshop Report: Fostering Intangible Design and IP Rights
19/11/24This workshop, in collaboration with EUIPO, aimed to address the pressing need for effective design IP protection, ensuring that designers and creators can thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape while contributing to Europe’s cultural and economic vitality.
The workshop highlighted the critical importance of safeguarding intellectual property (IP) in a rapidly evolving design landscape. The workshop convened industry experts, policymakers, and designers to address challenges in IP protection, particularly in digital and service-based innovations. Through panel discussions, expert presentations, and interactive roundtables, participants explored key issues such as knowledge gaps, accessibility, and the impact of AI on IP. The event concluded with actionable recommendations, including enhanced education, regulatory reforms, and increased stakeholder collaboration, to empower designers and bolster Europe’s creative economy.
The workshop underscored the pressing need for designers to navigate complex intellectual property systems to protect their innovations effectively. Experts highlighted the significant knowledge gaps within the design community, emphasizing the importance of education at all levels—from early schooling to professional training—to build awareness of IP rights and their strategic value. Discussions also focused on the challenges posed by power imbalances between designers and corporations, the limitations of current IP frameworks in protecting non-physical and complex designs, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence on intellectual property.
Recommendations included rebranding IP processes as user-friendly, expanding funding and support for small and independent designers, and fostering inclusive dialogue among stakeholders, such as policymakers, legal experts, and design organisations. By addressing these issues collaboratively, the workshop aimed to create a more equitable and accessible IP system that supports innovation and sustains Europe’s vibrant design sector.
This workshop was supported by the EUIPO and Ornamo Art and Design Finland in the DAACE project framework.