47 ACID To find out more, visit www.acid.uk.com tirelessly championed these issues, spotlighting the challenges faced by talented designers whose original creations are all too often shamelessly copied. Whilst we await the outcome of the consultation, it is still vitally important that Design Law is kept on the political agenda. Read ACID’s response: https://www.acid. uk.com/campaigning/design-consultation-2024-2025/ In July 2026, ACID conducted a survey of members and findings indicate that AI-driven copying is an emerging and significant concern for the design sector. Nearly one-third of respondents (29 percent) reported that their work had been copied by AI within the last 12 months, while 18 percent had not experienced such copying. Notably, more than half of respondents (53 percent) were unsure whether their work had been copied, highlighting a substantial level of uncertainty around the detection and identification of AI-related infringement. Among those who had experienced AI-driven copying, the most common response was that it had occurred a few times (14 percent of all respondents), while a smaller but notable proportion (5 percent) reported that their workhad been copied more than 20 times. These findings suggest that, for affected designers, AI-enabled copying is often a recurring rather than isolated issue. The financial impact also appears to be significant. Although most respondents were unable to estimate the associated costs, nearly one-quarter (24 percent) reported losses of between £1,000 and £10,000, while 4 percent indicated costs exceeding £10,000, with some reporting losses above £50,000. This suggests that where financial impacts can be identified, they may be substantial. Overall, the findings point to a growing challenge for designers. A sizeable proportion report repeated experiences of AI-driven copying and associated financial losses, while the high level of uncertainty suggests that the true scale of AIrelated infringement may be under-recognised. This lack of visibility may leave designers vulnerable to infringement that is difficult to detect, quantify, or address, underscoring the need for greater transparency, awareness, and effective mechanisms for identifying and responding to AI-enabled copying. SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR BRAND AND BUSINESS IN THE AGE OF AI? ACID’s advice is simple: If you don’t want to be copied, say so! There’s no more powerful message on your website/ marketing material. Something along the lines of, “All the intellectual property in our designs belongs to (your name). Any infringements will be pursued seriously.” Members of ACID use the ACID deterrent logo on their website, social media, trade stands and communications, along with an IP warning statement and AI deterrent statement to keep copycats at bay whether they’re bots or beings! The ACID IP databank provides members with a free, 3rd party evidence trail of their design journey, providing a certificate of unregistered design rights and copyrights that has been successfully used against online infringements on marketplaces such as TEMU and Amazon. In 2026, ACID launched the Member of ACID image watermarks to further bolster deterrence in the face of AI data-scraping, GenAI image theft and online marketplace infringement. AND YOUR VOICE COUNTS! The AI and Design survey is still open and your response counts! Sign our AI and IP Charter and pledge your support to Respect, Compliance and Ethics in IP. As AI continues to dominate the headlines, and risks to businesses and brands grow, a robust IP strategy is more important than ever. ACID firmly believe in the power of togetherness; a united voice is a stronger voice and we will continue to support designers with campaigning and resources to ensure you have the tools you need to run your business in the age of AI.
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