In 2006, inventors in Edinburgh filed a total of 489 patent applications, according to the UK government's Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Not bad, but the IPO is hoping to see those numbers continue to rise after it brings its Awareness Campaign to Edinburgh today offering free intellectual property advice and practical help to small and medium sized enterprises.
The event, being held this morning at the Sheraton Hotel, offers information and advice on patents, trade marks, new designs
legislation, commercial and mediation services.
Award-winning, local entrepreneur Tanya Ewing will talk about her experience of patenting Ewgeco, a device for conserving energy. Ewing invented the device after struggling to compare a
high gas bill with the reading on her meter.
The meter has been credited as a great way to help people save money on utility bills, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by seeing more clearly how they are expending energy.
"If
you have a good idea, take it further otherwise you may always regret not knowing what might have been," said Ewing.
"Protecting my invention was crucial to the success of my product."