On April 26th, the World Intellectual property day celebrates worldwide, and in 2023 the spotlight is put on female designers - creators of intellectual property. Women accounted for 23.7% among all designers in the European Union in 2021, according to the latest study release by the European Union Intellectual property Office. Latvia has a significantly better situation - the share of women designers is 35%.
Financial support from the European Union is available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Latvia to partially cover the costs of intellectual property feasibility studies (IP scan), trade marks, designs, patents and applications for plant variety rights.
Annija Kanska porcelain teacup trademark Cerannic comes from combination of two words Annija and ceramics. But her path to registering her design and trademark began with experiences and two contradictory feelings - paralysing shock and decisive action.
Dishes with “bumps”.
At the start of her business unique dishes were made in a small workshop in Tukums, they were still only introduced to new customers and followers, and new ideas of shapes and colours floated around, transforming designs from dreams into unique physical teacups.
Unfortunately, the reality of life soon knocked through social networks. Insistent, aggressive accusations of plagiarism have been propagated actively by two “intellectual property experts” on the basis of a Croatian artist also creates similar dishes with “bumps”!
Such a turn of events literally knocked the foundation from Annijas ground, and her peaceful attempts to explain that “bumps” on dishes are one of the oldest means of graphic expression, as well as references to visual differences in shapes and means of expression, only added to the enthusiasm of reproach distributors. After experiencing a chilling shock, Annija began looking for a way to protect her good name and the created place of work, joy and creativity.
From the carousel - at the port of peace
Annija studied interior design, received her diploma during of the financial crisis, so there was no hope of getting a job in the freshly learned profession. Annija decided to jump into marketing, expanding her knowledge with visual design of advertising materials. After followed by a graphic design studies at the University of Latvia, and a job at an advertising agency. A stylish, creative environment set with a steady rush, campaigns, deadlines and a draining carousel of never ending projects soon led to serious health issues and the happy news of a second pregnancy.
“Already on parental leave, I knew I wasn't going back to the office, but I didn't know for a long time what I could do. There was only a quiet desire for a life without a rush, that led to the ceramist Ivars Grašs workshop in Apšuciems. Then the new phase in my life started, "says Annija. “Soon I turned to porcelain dishes because I feel the best workinmg with this material. Seemingly light but very demanding material that learned me how to shape through tears. After the first hundred failed attempts, I cried at home because I couldn’t get it right! My husband comforted and supported me, and the artist, ceramist Gita Abola helped me to understand the delicate nuances of the material. Finally, the dishes began to shape," Annie describes process of discovering porcelain.
Meditative teacup for national guardsman
Cerannics teacups have a name given by their author and a brief description of characteristic traits. Monika, Sibilla, Lauma, and highly demanded Zane. There's a cobwebbed Bendzamins and a quite randomly discovered Pablo. “I poured the mass in moulds, but it was time to go to the hospital and let my third daughter into the world. I returned to the workshop one month later and put them in the oven anyway. Thinking practically that there would be at least some new teacups at home. But when taking them out from the oven, I realised it’s Pablo! I had recently joined the national Guard, and it gave momentum to make a teacup in camouflage tones. I'm still experimenting with them.
I try to capture the first feelings of taking a freshly made teacups in my hands, because they tell you both the name and the description. The road from conception to ready shape is long and slow. When you create dishes, you have to be calm, any rushed action will leave a trace, and the dish will break. It's the kind of a meditative process in which a dreamy idea brings on a real shape. So when I hear an order of a hundred teacups asking for a discount, I do not know how to react. I take a breath and explain the creation process I have developed. I can't make two equal teacups even if I want to and each of them must take as much time as needed. It is vital that the new owner, enjoying coffee or evening tea from that cup, would have a nice moment of calmness, "Annija explains the pottery craft nuances.
Notions and reality
She does not lack ideas for new dish shapes, types, tone patterns, nor does she lack investment in the development of a sparing workshop and equipment. However, before taking any further steps, Annija decided to look after design and trademark protection of her creations.
“After accusations of plagiarism, I contacted a Croatian artist, who I supposedly imitate. We had a friendly conversation. She looked at my works, marveled at the scandal in Latvia, and said she was proud if her work could inspire other authors as well.
I then applied for consultations with patent attorney Ieva Zvejsalniece. She did a professional assessment and admitted no signs of plagiarism in my work. However, to protect myself from unpleasant surprises in the future, I decided to
register a design and trademark. Financial support by an SME Fund was a good motivation to start this process," admits the ceramist.
For small businesses, protecting their intellectual property is usually not at the top of the list of priorities although there is a good understanding that the issue is essential for long-term development of a company. While the notion is that registration is an expensive and complicated process, Annija expresses the opposite: “Not expensive, nor complicated! The assessment of intellectual property (IP Scan) and the development of a strategy cost me €70. The remaining amount is covered by the SME Fund. Registration of a trade mark and a design may receive co-financing from the same fund up to EUR 1000, covering 75% of the costs.
After the rough experience I gained through these attacks, I realised that when creating a new product, it was imperative to take care by protecting it. That is my peace guarantee! Especially if working in a field depending on feelings, mood and other intangible things, then a couple of black stains to your reputation are enough to lose everything! I think it is also essential to educate young people on intellectual property topics because it will create a safer environment for small and medium-sized enterprises in the future, " invites Cerannic creator Annija Kanska.
Practical steps for an EU SME to receive support summarized by Māra Vilciņa, Project manager in the Latvian Patent office:
- If you are an EU SME and have a little knowledge of your industrial property, go to the EU IPO website in https://euipo.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/online-services/sme-fund
- If you are EU SME, but you are not sure about your industrial property, then contact one of the Latvian IP experts and they will apply for support for your company. Or look for more at: https://business.ideaspowered.eu/
- Create an account for your company with few steps and only 2 official documents needed – company VAT and Bank account registration!
- Select and apply for everything your company would need – IP strategy development, trade mark, design registration, patent search and registration, and plant variety protection.
- The total aid available for one SME in Latvia is EUR 3 355!