Wednesday 4th July 2018 marked the third annual British IP Day - a celebration of the huge contribution that intellectual property makes up and down the UK, culturally and economically.

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Creator Gathering

 

IP Minister, Sam Gyimah MP, greeted a gathering of creators and IP-rich business owners in Westminster Hall. 

“This is an important occasion – IP is the lifeblood of modern economies – and there is much to celebrate ... The work we are doing to improve understanding of, and respect for, intellectual property is beginning to pay dividends. However I recognise there is still more to do, with 25% of consumers still accessing some content illegally. I am committed to tackling piracy. Through greater collaboration we can continue to reach the current and next generation of digital consumers, for the long term benefit of us all. Our modern Industrial Strategy and the transformative Creative Industries Sector Deal are key in helping us achieve this. I wish you all a happy British IP Day and an enjoyable evening.”
 
His engagement and British IP Day was publicised by both BEIS and DCMS, as well as the IPO, thanks to his launching of the new OCI tracker report.
 
 
MP meetings

We held nine meetings between MPs and constituents:

 

• Chi Onwurah MP (Shadow Industrial Strategy Minister) with the Alliance and Kelly Hudson, ACID affiliate lawyer at McDaniel & Co.

• Sam Gyimah MP (IP Minister) with Duncan and Nessie Maclay of ACID member This Is Nessie, a small designer and stationer (meeting again in the constituency today)

• Daniel Zeichner MP with Matthew Bailey of BAPLA member the National Portrait Gallery, a massive rightsholder and cultural institution

• Stuart Andrew MP with James Hall of ACG member Imperial Tobacco, an innovative company at the forefront of brand protection technologyStuart

• Anneliese Dodds MP with Douglas Pocock of PA member Raintree, a leading educational publisher

• Bim Afolami MP with Thomas Parrott of ACG member BeachBody UK, and Jonathan Lockwood of BAPLA member Getty, a world-leading image library

• Stephen Doughty MP with Hazel Cushion of PA member Accent Press, a small but successful publisher and café based in Cardiff Bay’s ‘creative quarter’

• Helen Grant MP with Victoria Hislop, best-selling author (thanks to the Association of Authors’ Agents!)

• George Eustice MP with ACID member Lindsey Child, an artist and owner of Tidalmarks Garden Studio in Cornwall

Additional meetings (already took place or expected soon off the back of British IP Day):

• Tom Tugendhat MP with John Balean of BAPLA member TopFoto, an independent image archive in Kent

• Neil Coyle MP with Russell Cameron of ACID member Innermost, an award-winning furniture and lighting design company

• Lucy Frazer MP with Emma Wilson of PA member the Royal Society of Chemistry, a world-leading journal publisher

 
The meetings delivered some very positive conversations with MPs, many of whom had not engaged previously with the Alliance, or IP at all. Several offered their active support through PQs and other means. Most importantly, the invaluable links established between the creators and IP-rich businesses and their local representative will stand all of the IP community in good stead for future campaigning.
 

Parliament tour and drinks in House of Lords
 

• Our guests were treated to a tour of Parliament and even managed to get access to the gallery of the Commons chamber to see a live debate.

• Baroness Neville-Rolfe and Lord Clement-Jones then escorted guests to the upper House, where they enjoyed a drink and a chat with two political stalwarts of the UK’s IP community and creative industries, in the sun and splendour of the Lords Bar and Terrace. Our thanks go to both for their consistent support.

 

Summer Reception

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Rebecca Long-Bailey, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, spoke confidently of Labour’s commitment to IP, the need to protect the UK’s world-leading position and how the fostering of innovation that IP allows for is vital to create jobs and secure a prosperous future in the world. She was clear on IP as a non-partisan issue and that she and Labour colleagues (including attendees Tom Watson, Bill Esterson and Kevin Brennan) would be there to hear the concerns of stakeholders and act to support them.

 

Our IP Champion Award went to Simon Brown of the Film Content Protection Agency, for his exceptional work in protecting the UK from illegal recordings in cinemas and educating and training cinema staff to spot offenders. Congratulations to him and the FCPA and FDA, and commiserations to worthy shortlisted contenders, ACID member SnapDragon and BTHA member Rubie’s Masquerade!

 

Special congratulations also go to one of the Alliance's founding members, Lavinia Carey, who was presented by Dids Macdonald with a special Outstanding Contribution to IP award for her decades of passionate service. 

 

Thanks as ever will be going to the charismatic hosting of Pete Wishart MP, and for great speeches from Chair Bill Bush and Nicola Pearcey from Lionsgate, representing BASE. And of course to the brilliant Classic BRIT-Award winning saxophonist Amy Dickson, who entertained guests with two stellar performances including a lively jig to round off the evening. We were lucky enough to have renowned (and incredibly patient) Magnum photographer Stuart Franklin to capture the whole day with some great photos.

 

Over 20 parliamentarians attended including Andrew Jones MP, John Whittingdale MP, Tom Watson MP, Kevin Brennan MP, Bill Esterson MP, Jo Stevens MP, Angus MacNeil MP, Stephen Timms MP, Baroness Neville-Rolfe and Lord Foster.

 

Finally, massive thanks to all our supporters and all our reception sponsors: BASE, FDA, Premier League and BPI.

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