So, after a long and hard-fought campaign, congratulations to ACID on getting part of what they wanted - recogition in UK law that copying is a crime.  The Intellectual Property Bill 2013 has passed unamended through the House of Lords, and requires only the Royal Assent to become law (though there will be much to do to implement it).

The new crimes will apply only to UK or Community Registered Designs and, following representations from industry, will apply only where a design is fairly closely copied so that there are no immaterial differences (the same test as used to assess novelty of designs).  Nonetheless, this new tool in the armoury should be welcomed by designers who are ripped off or pirated.  We understand that the IPO are now looking at ways of making design registration (even) more affordable for designers.