Name that duck!

Name that duck!

The story so far: last year, at the Intellectual Property Institute's Stephen Stewart Memorial Lecture given by Andrew Gowers, IPKat blog team member Jeremy auctioned three 'golden ducks' to raise funds for the Institute. One was purchased by Isabel Davies, who promptly - and nobly - offered to sell for the benefit of the Institute the naming rights in her newly-acquired treasure. The best bid received by the IPKat was £105 (that's nearly 160 euro, or over US$200), the bidder being Dids McDonald of ACID (Anti-Copying in Design). Dids writes:

"As an eternal optimist - I guess lobbying is a bit like swimming in glue(!) - I decided against putting a negative spin on the lack of design right focus in Gowers, hence:

MACDONALD DUCK

"A©ID keeps Design Right afloat!"

Never the one to miss an opportunity to win hearts and minds to the ACID cause, Dids continues:

"If you go to the ACID website I have published another open letter to the Chancellor on the subject and you will also see below our positive responses to the various other aspects upon which we can support UK designers.

For the past 12 months ACID has been flying the flag for mediation v litigation and it was encouraging to see the need for mediation frequently highlighted as an effective alternative to costly litigation. The creation of an IP mediation service (also available to non members) with or without legal representation will be integral to ACID’s latest campaign “MEDIATE TO SOLVE” to be launched in Spring 2007. Statistics supporting ACID’s new service are underpinned by its 1600+ on the spot mediations at grass roots, less than 30% required further legal action.

Finally, good news for those relying on copyright protection, ACID will extend its free voluntary design register to include a voluntary digital copyright register for a small charge for both members and non-members. ACID "DROP" copyright register details will be announced in Spring 2007".

The IPKat welcomes MacDonald Duck and hopes that he (or is it she?) will fight for justice for copyright-dependent designers for many a long year to come. Merpel says, that might not be the only fight, if Disney cuts up rough over Donald Duck or, worse, allegedly vindictive litigants McDonalds put duck on their fast-food menu.