Going that extra yard to protect a client's intellectual property rights

For any business with an item of intellectual property at its core, it is essential that every single illegal version is located and removed from public view.

Niel Ackermann, a partner in Hewitsons’ Cambridge-based IP team, has certainly taken a hands-on role in helping Comberton-based Belbin Associates win its battle against copyright infringers.

Belbin’s key piece of intellectual property concerns the team role theory created by Dr Meredith Belbin, which states that within any team, nine types of role have to be fulfilled for it to be successful. However, when the theory was first published in 1981 in the form of a questionnaire in Dr Belbin’s book Management Teams: Why They Succeed Or Fail, there were only eight roles.

In subsequent years, despite the theory being updated, many businesses continued to use the old theory found at the back of the book. This involved some large corporate training organisations who were using it to make significant amounts of money. Much of Niel’s work with Belbin, which has been a client of Hewitsons for 15 years, has involved policing the internet to uncover where intellectual property infringements were occurring.

Niel said: “A lot of the work for Belbin centres around doing our own investigative work, tracking down websites where a clear infringement is taking place. It is amazing how many claim they thought it was okay to use the information as it is in the public domain but, unfortunately, that is no defence.

“Hewitsons has certainly had a lot of success on behalf of Belbin both in terms of policing the internet to protect its intellectual property and in securing substantial damages.”

Gytha Lodge, Belbin’s Publishing and Copyright Manager, added: “Hewitsons, and in particular Niel Ackermann, have been key to the battle with copyright infringers. The battle is slowly being won, with a lot of careful investigative work by Niel. The results have been excellent, not only in the UK but in countries such as the US and Australia, with our copyright upheld and infringing inventories taken down.

“Our dealings with Hewitsons have always been courteous and helpful, with genuine advice given as to what is best for our firm instead of the course of action that will be most beneficial to them. We value this hugely and knowing Hewitsons has our interests at heart is what has made us maintain our close relationship with them.”

To find out more about Belbin visit: www.belbin.com