It's that time of year again when the
temperature plummets and everyone takes a well-deserved break. This month's
Own-it newsletter – our last of 2007 – brings you glad tidings from
Own-it towers and news of our exclusive member events and
services including an event about how to protect and exploit your work so
you can look forward to a very merry 2008.

In this issue:

1.
Festive solutions and New Year IP resolutions
2. Event: How not to get ripped
off in the creative industries
3. Event: How to negotiate a better deal in
Film/TV
4. Glad tidings we
bring

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Own
It is a partnership between the London Development Agency
(http://www.lda.org.uk), and London College of
Communication
(http://lcc.arts.ac.uk),
University of The Arts London
(http://www.arts.ac.uk).
==============================================================

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1.
Festive IP solutions and New Year IP resolutions

Has somebody copied your
Christmas decorations? Or maybe you want to license out your design for
Santa's grotto? How about acting on the urge to publish and share your
secret turkey recipe?

Get all your questions about the ins and outs of
intellectual property answered by the friendly IP advice team at Own-it,
including:

 – contracts,
 – collaboration,
 – infringement,

 – licensing,
 – assignment

and guess what you don't ever have to
leave the Christmas tree to do it! Visit the advice section of our website,
sign-in and place your query. One of our expert advisors will get back to
you with an answer!

For more complex queries you can get access for a
free one-to-one with a specialist IP lawyer through this service. Our
lawyers have free appointments post-New Year so what are you waiting
for?

Get started at:
www.own-it.org/advice

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2.
Event: How not to get ripped off in the creative industries

Being copied
and someone else ripping off your creative ideas is a major concern once you
start to sell, publicise and promote your creative work. You need to protect
your ideas and make sure you know what to do if someone does actually copy
what is rightfully yours. 

Come along to our last event of the year
where we give you a stunningly clear guide to the law. We'll covering the
steps any creative professional should take in order to stop somebody else
stealing or otherwise using your work without your permission. Best of
all, the event is absolutely free!

Come and get your questions answered
in plain-english about:

 – copyright,
 – patenting,
 – trade marks,

 – licensing,
 – design rights

Speakers include Georgie Collins,
head of law firm Bevan Brittan's London IP team. She acts for a variety of
clients including leading fashion houses, film production companies,
software creators and producers and a number of individual
designers.

Event: How not to get ripped off in the creative
industries
Date: 10 December 2007
Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Location:

Hub Cafe/Bar, Ground floor
65 Davies Street
London, W1K 5DA
(near
Bond St tube)

Cost: Free (when you book online)
Booking and more
info:
www.own-it.org/events/details/?eventId=230

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3.
Event: How to negotiate a better deal in Film/TV

If you're a writer,
producer or director then this event – in collaboration with Stellar Network
– is for you.

Preparing to make your first film or TV programme is an
exciting time for writers/directors and producers but it also can be a
challenging one. If someone offers you a deal it's very easy to say yes
and accept it, however low, rather than risk losing it by negotiating.
Although money won't be your only reason for making content, it's nice to
earn more than the minimum wage when you're working 11 day/fortnights, 12
hours a day! 

We're bringing together a lawyer and an agent with years
of specialist experience to discuss:

 – What are the fees you should
expect?
 – How you can create a deal that is right for you?
 – How can you
exploit your rights across other platforms?
 – What are the right questions
to ask an agent or financier?
 – What are the common pitfalls of
commissioning contracts?
 – What is the best way of making a living in the
film industry?

Speakers include:

Matthew Dench – Agent, Dench
Arnold
Matthew has developed a detailed understanding of media and
contractual law and built up his contacts within the industry. His
agency represents writers, directors, producers and heads of department with
the client list including Peter Chelsom (FUNNY BONES), Shona Auerbach (DEAR
FRANKIE), Peter Briggs (HELLBOY), Matthew Faulk and Mark Skeet (VANITY FAIR)
to name but a few.

Cassandra Manita – Lawyer, Harbottle and
Lewis
Cassandra is a Solicitor in the Film and Television Group. She
advises clients from all sectors of the film and television industries
and provides advice on all aspects of development, production, financing and
distribution. Recent productions include Agnes B's Mister Lonely directed by
Harmony Korine and starring Diego Luna and Samantha Morton; the television
movie Stuart: A Life Backwards produced by Sam Mendes and Pippa Harris' Neal
Street Productions.

Event: How to negotiate a better deal in
Film/TV
Date: Tue 22 January 2008
Time: 6.00pm –
9.00pm
Location:
Delegates Centre
BFI Southbank
Belvedere
Road
South Bank
London
SE1 8XT

Cost: Free (when you book
online)
Booking and more info:
www.own-it.org/events/details/?eventId=231

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4.
Glad tidings we bring

Here at Own-it towers we've put up our decorations
and everyone is cheery and celebratory. What have we asked for from Santa we
hear you ask? Well, we think we've got our presents early this year.
We're proud to announce that we've busted the 13,000 member mark. Yep, we've
now got a community of thirteen thousand creative professionals all learning
about protecting and exploiting their creative work!

We're chuffed to
be attracting new members from across the creative sector and across the UK
as we offer advice to anyone, wherever they are, and just want to spread
good old fashioned IP
love.

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Have
an IPlicious festive break!
The Own-it Team
info@own-it.org
http://www.own-it.org

Own-it
University
of the Arts London
London College of Communication
Elephant &
Castle
London SE1 6SB

Own-it – Intellectual Property Advice for
Creative Businesses. Free advice, events and information for creative
businesses on: Copyright, Design Rights, Patents, Trademarks, Branding,
Confidentiality Agreements, Licensing, Royalties, Contracts.

Own-it
makes every effort to provide information which is relevant and as complete,
up-to-date and accurate as possible. Any information and material provided
is for informative purposes only and should not diminish the individual's
obligation to seek appropriate professional advice where such is required or
necessary. Neither Own-it nor any of its employees, agents or
subcontractors can be held responsible or liable to users of the
information or any other person for any errors or omissions, or for any
losses, costs or claims which arise as a result of relying on such
information or advice.