67 ACID World IP Day on 26 April may have passed, but its message couldn’t be more urgent for the UK’s creative community – especially those working in the giftware, greetings, and stationery sectors. This year’s theme, “IP and Music: Feel the Beat”, celebrated the role of intellectual property (IP) in protecting creativity and fuelling cultural connection. But it also cast a spotlight on a growing threat: the unchecked use of generative AI. At Anti Copying In Design (ACID), whilst we fully support the ethical use of AI as a means to achieve growth, we stand with our members and creative industries in calling for Government not to erode existing copyright protection, because the threat posed by AI doesn’t just affect musicians. It affects every creator whose designs, words, or work can be data mined, mimicked, and monetised without consent, recompense, attribution or transparency. AI Is moving fast. But copyright law must keep up. AI can already imitate human-made music, lyrics, poetry, and visuals – often trained on existing copyrighted works, including artwork from independent designers and illustrators who bring personality and meaning to gift cards, wrapping paper, homewares, and keepsakes. We’ve already seen this technology used to replicate art styles, character designs, and even full collections of greetings imagery – sometimes indistinguishable from the original creator’s work. And that’s the danger: if laws don’t protect against the unauthorised use of IP in generated AI (GAI) training, creators’ risk being replaced by the very content they inspired. This isn’t innovation. It’s theft on an industrial scale. The UK copyright & AI consultation: A turning point In February 2025, the UK Government closed its consultation on copyright and AI, receiving over 11,000 responses, unprecedented – many from designers, writers, musicians and industry bodies like ACID. In April, Westminster was packed with MP’s, who had received letters from their creative constituents, showing that campaigning really does work. Hundreds voiced their serious concerns about the future of the protection of their creative work. The message from the UK’s creative community was clear: Protect the creator. Not the copier. The giftware and greetings sector plays a vital role in the UK’s creative economy. It’s an industry built on originality, emotion, and connection - often by lone, micro and small businesses whose entire value lies in the uniqueness of their creativity underpinned by IP. If AI tools are allowed to scrape and exploit creative content without permission, we risk hollowing out the very foundation of the sector. Why copyright matters in the greetings and giftware industry From heartfelt and personalised words in a greeting card to the artwork on a hand-illustrated coaster, copyright is what underpins the value of creative goods. It allows designers and makers to license their work, earn a fair living, and grow their businesses with confidence. More importantly, IP protection fosters innovation – encouraging the next generation of illustrators and designers to invest in their craft without fear of theft. World IP Day may have highlighted the issue in music, but the beat runs through all corners of the creative world, and in giftware, where sentiment and storytelling are key, protecting originality is everything. What needs to happen now As the Government reviews the results of the consultation, we’re urging policymakers to: • Uphold the principle of human authorship • Require explicit permission before copyrighted content can be used for AI training • Ensure creators are fairly compensated when their work contributes to AI-generated outputs • Give a commitment that IP law and, in particular, copyright law will never be eroded to allow Big Tech to make even bigger profits on the back of originators’ talent. This is not just about technology. It’s about fairness, respect, and the future of the UK’s creative industries. What you can do As a community, we must keep the pressure on: • Share this message with your networks and on social media • Write to your MP and ask them to back strong IP rights • Support creators by buying original, not AI-made designs At ACID, we’ll continue to fight for copyright protections that put creators first. Because whether it’s a chart-topping song or a beautifully crafted greeting card - behind every piece of creativity is a person who deserves to be recognised, respected, and protected. Let’s protect the creator. Let’s make IP rights future-proof. And let’s ensure the beat of human creativity keeps playing strong. A wake-up call ACID’s Dids Macdonald and Faith Capstick discuss how to protect giftware creativity from AI To find out more, visit www.acid.uk.com
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