Creative&digital businesses across the North of England can now access free IP advice and support from own-it north…

Intellectual Property is the life-blood of creative&digital businesses, yet all too often, business-owners operating in the sector don’t fully understand the principles of IP – leaving them vulnerable to having their work copied and exploited without their consent.

A new pilot project, Own-it North – based on a successful initiative that has been available to London-based creatives since 2004 – has been established to equip small businesses right across the North with the support and advice they need to protect and exploit their IP assets.

Own-it North offers a unique free web-based advice service, where users can post any enquiries they have relating to IP to a team of experts in the field. In addition, the Own-it North website features an encyclopaedic wealth of resources and information to help creatives even further. The ‘IP Info’ section of the site includes factsheets, podcasts, articles and sample contracts covering the full spectrum of creative sectors: from design, photography and visual arts, through to film, fashion and music. It’s an essential reference for anyone confused by copyright, stuck in a tirade over trademarks, or losing their patience with patents.

The Own-it North service is open to SMEs operating in the creative&digital sector across the whole of the North of England. To access the service, simply register at www.own-it.org