In 2014 IP Protect Expo showed an increase of 35 per cent in visitor numbers. Attendances of brands also increased by 36pc. Although this increase is say organisers due to the event establishing itself more and more every year, the organisers are convinced that there is also an increase from brands and content owners who are new to the challenges of intellectual property (IP) protection.
Susanne Hasselmann, Director at IP Events Ltd, the organisers of IP Protect Expo, said: “This year we specifically targeted SMEs, including designers and production companies and with the help of the Intellectual Property Office, UKTI and ACID, we were able to offer a well-rounded programme for anyone looking to grow their business and protect their most valuable assets at home or abroad.’ A designer who visited the Expo for this reason, said “words cannot express how grateful I am.”
In total, the event, held at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London on March 11 and 12 brought together over 500 visitors and over 40 exhibitors.
IP Protect Expo 2014 drew exhibitors and visitors from around the world offering a range of experiences, products and people under one roof. Ivan Matić, Associate at PETOŠEVIĆ – Brand Protection / IPR Enforcement spoke of a “great opportunity for all of us to exercise some networking, exchange ideas and consult with interesting and knowledgeable people from IP businesses. I met people who I knew only from e-mail correspondence until then and, of course, I saw some colleagues known to me from before.”
The exhibition hosted a range of product and service providers, from associations, government bodies, law firms and investigators to on-line, software and security packaging companies.
The upstairs floor hosted an exhibition by brands and law enforcement bodies for the purpose of law enforcement training and networking with each other. To support this aim ACG, the host of the event, combined their London IP Training Day with the Expo on day one. The post survey shows add organisers that one of the highlights of IP Protect Expo 2014 once again were the informal networking opportunities provided. These included the pre-conference dinner and the Hewlett- Packard sponsored drinks party on day one.
Further feedback received from attendees shows that the seminars were once again rated with case studies, legislative updates from other territories, on-line and law enforcement updates being the most popular seminar topics of the event. Some of the presentations are also available through the website: http://www.ip-protectexpo.com/ip-protect-expo-2014.htm.
IP Protect Expo 2015 has been confirmed for March 3 and 4. The organisers are collating further feedback over the next few weeks and will then start planning for next year’s event.
