Acid to launch digital intellectual property tracker

The Acid IP tracker works by ensuring that graphic designs, drawings, submissions to tender, responses to brief and any other confidential IP information sent to a third party has the safeguard of evidence of confirmed delivery for the sender, with a copy held by Acid.

The service will automatically acknowledge delivery of information and the recipient will confirm their acceptance of the confidentiality of the content when accessing the file. The Acid IP tracker will cost £3.50 per transmission for Acid members and £5 for non-members.

The initiative is set to launch on 26 April, which is World Intellectual Property Day. Acid says the project has been under discussion since 2007.

Dids Macdonald, chief executive of Acid, says, ‘Most micro-enterprises and SMEs cannot afford to go all the way to court over infringement, so the most important element of IP protection is a deterrent and preventative strategy, particularly when sending sensitive information to a third party.’

She adds, ‘Importantly, providing receipted evidence of sending reverses the burden of proof and makes it easier to take action.’

Acid ambassador Sebastian Conran says, ‘An unintended consequence of digital technology is the dissemination and theft of identities, ideas and designs. Proving ownership of IP is the foundation of protecting it, and the Acid IP tracker provides unequivocal evidence for files in digital transit – simply, efficiently and effectively.’