Free advice on intellectual property, copyright, patents & licensing

Own-it goes North - click here to get Own-it services in the North & North West of England

Own-it helps even more businesses with Own-it North

Own-it North is a new project that provides intellectual property support and guidance to creative businesses in the North and North West of England.

If you are a creative business in the North or North West of England and need advice on how to protect, manage and make money from your intellectual property then please click here and we will help you grow your business.

Own-it North is a three month pilot project and has been set up to test demand and use of Own-it services in the area that will help inform future business support and services in the region.

Own-it North is funded by The North West Development Agency and is a partnership project between The Northern Edge group of universities, Salford University, Skillset NW, University of the Arts London and The London Development Agency.

Own-it North is an example of partnership, innovation and best practice in the public sector.

Welcome to Own-it: Your Free Intellectual Property Resource

Own-it offers free intellectual property advice for creative businesses.

Within your business or your practice, you've probably created a wealth of in-house ideas, designs, music, writing, images – in short, 'intellectual property' - which can make you extra money, as long as you give it the proper legal protection. Own-it will show you how.

Own-it provides:

free legal contract templates, articles, podcasts and factsheets available for download
free legal advice and a detailed FAQ section
events to enable creative people to make the most of their ideas
a directory of useful resources and contacts across creative sectors.

Own-it is a partnership between London Development Agency and London College of Communication, University of The Arts London.

Latest intellectual property news

Two stripes and you're out for Adidas imitators | 12 May 2008
This week: MEPs say no to new sport IP rights, final credits roll for film torrent site and Adidas outpaces trainer imitators.

MySpace denied myspace.co.uk in domain name scrap. | 6 May 2008
In the round-up this week: more details on the proposed EU copyright term extension and Google sponsored links policy sparks trade mark row.

Domain name decision gives Red Bull wings | 28 Apr 2008
This week: Red Bull recover dodgy domain and more shots are fired in the war or words between record labels and ISPs.

Forthcoming Own-it events

How to make the most from your brilliant TV idea

Date: Thursday 15 May 2008

Waiting list - if you would like to go onto our waiting list for this event, simply email info@own-it.org with the name of the event in the subject line and please provide a contact phone number. Only registered users will be added to the waiting list.

Do you have a great idea that you think would work great on TV? Whatever your idea is about you have to speak to a channel or independent production company and explain it in detail. In doing so you risk the idea being exploited by the people you are speaking to but they are also able to give you the chance of a lifetime. It’s a Catch-22 situation.

See more details...

New on Own-it...

Following on from the amazing success of our "How Not to Get Ripped Off" DVD, we're now offering all Own-it members the chance to watch our basic guide to copyrights, trade marks, design rights and patents online for free!

The online video features a presentation of how to protect your work and 3 case studies from the worlds of product design, jewellery and photography who describe their experiences. There's also a series of Q&A from Own-it members.

Watch "How Not to Get Ripped Off" now!