BAPLA Launches Free Legal IP Service For Members

The British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies (BAPLA) is unveiling a free service that gives members access to specialist IP lawyers.

PRESS RELEASE

The British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies (BAPLA) is delighted to unveil a new legal service that will give members, for the first time, free access to specialist IP lawyers.

Forming a new partnership with Finers Stephens Innocent LLP (FSI), BAPLA is creating this legal advice service as a new membership benefit, which subject to a ‘fair use’ policy, means subscribers can get telephone advice from leading lawyers on any relevant copyright and other intellectual property issues they have.

BAPLA Chairman Paul Brown said: “A number of our members have worked with FSI before and they come well recommended; FSI have dedicated teams, including specialist intellectual property, art and cultural property lawyers. Legal support is a necessary part of everyone’s business, but is often too expensive for most companies to consider, meaning that a lot of issues such as copyright infringement are never addressed. Hopefully this new resource from BAPLA will help members not only protect their assets, but also generate more revenue”.

BAPLA has also negotiated with FSI a discount for any members wishing to use their services outside of this scheme, although no member using the free service will be obliged to use FSI outside of that.

BAPLA has also been working on other new membership benefits, including the development of a brand new business MOT training course that looks at improving skills in keywording, marketing and agent networking, and, BAPLA is working with another leading IP specialist firm Swan Turton to develop the existing Terms & Conditions template that is available to members.

Many other projects, including a new style networking event exclusively for members, are in the pipeline, and BAPLA will be making more announcements soon.

Any picture libraries or agencies, existing or just starting up, interested in joining BAPLA can contact Susanne (Susanne@bapla.org.uk) to find out about all the benefits of becoming a member, with prices starting from under £400 plus VAT.