Social project · jewellers · artists · craftspeople · IP

How to protect your own designs and work

Practical intellectual-property education for jewellers, artists and craftspeople.

Training on heritage protection and intellectual property.

A training workshop on craft and responsible use of IP.

The craft-heritage-training project trains jewellers, artists and craftspeople: how to protect designs and marks, and how to earn fairly from creative work and local heritage.

Scope: IP overview, ethical pricing and sales, place storytelling. Capacity: 15–25 people per edition · 2 editions / year. Courses are educational - not a substitute for individual legal advice.

Who it is for

Jewellers and goldsmiths (micro and small studios)
Artists, sculptors, ceramicists, fashion and fragrance designers
Craftspeople and folk creators (rural circles, craft chambers)
Art academy / design students - placement path
Legal and IP education volunteers (2–5 people)

Scope

Module 1: protection - industrial design, trademark, copyright, hallmark (UPRP / EUIPO overview, no individual advice)
Module 2: earning - pricing, statutory/craft sales, museum collaboration, avoiding plagiarism
Module 3: heritage - place history in the product, storytelling, materials ethics
Practical workshops + group consultations (not a substitute for individual legal advice)
Open materials for participants; foundation legal volunteering path

MVP1 Training

2 course editions (15–25 participants each)
6–8 sessions per edition (online + 1–2 in person)
Material pack: IP protection checklist + pricing template
1 open day with regional jewellers / artists

Budget: PLN 50–120k · 12 months · TRL 3

Funding: FERS / social innovation, PROO, partial course fees, donations, craft chamber partnerships

Budget and sources

Total: PLN 50–120k (agent-estimate)

Funding sources

FERS 5.1 / social innovation (if available) or PROO/NOWEFIO
Partial course fees (discounts for rural circles / students)
Craft chamber partnerships (venue / promotion)
Foundation donations + reimbursement for legal volunteers

Line items

Trainer fees (IP, craft business, heritage): PLN 20–40k
Venue / platform + materials: PLN 8–15k
Coordination and recruitment: PLN 10–20k
Open day / networking: PLN 5–10k
Documentation, PL/EN, evaluation: PLN 5–15k
Reserve / scholarships for regional participants: PLN 2–20k

People and roles

Capacity: 15–25 participants per edition · 2 editions / year · 2–5 volunteers

1 IP protection trainer (lawyer / UPRP practitioner - general education)
1 craft business / ethical sales trainer
1 heritage educator / storytelling
2–5 volunteers: law (placements), organisation, media
1 foundation coordinator
Partners: craft chamber, art academy, museum

Implementation schedule

Duration: 12 months (2 editions)

Months 1–2: course programme, recruit trainers, draft grant application
Months 3–5: edition 1 (6–8 sessions + open day)
Months 6–7: evaluation, material updates
Months 8–10: edition 2
Months 11–12: report, publish findings, year-2 plan

Foundation model

Education for makers on protecting heritage and earning fairly from craft - under statutory goals. The foundation is not a law firm; courses are educational. Individual legal cases are out of course scope.

How you can help

Choose how to get involved - email or (soon) online form.

Placements, theses and research

For outstanding candidates: placements in every format (on-site, remote, hybrid), research commissions, sponsorship of engineering, master's and doctoral theses, and joint research with a university.

Send email

Donation / scholarship

Support scholarships for makers from Opatów, Ostrowiec and the region.

Send email Donate

Pilot partner

Craft chamber, art academy, museum, artists’ association - co-delivery.

Send email

Partners sought

Craft / goldsmith chambers

Art academies and art schools

Museums and community centres

Rural women’s circles and folk creator associations

Legal volunteers (placements)

Portal roadmap

30 days

Draft 6–8 session programme
3 conversations with potential trainers / chambers

90 days

Recruitment for edition 1 (min. 15 people)
Launch first 2 sessions
Draft FERS / PROO application

We are looking for volunteers and academic partners

Across all foundation projects we seek volunteers for field work, documentation, education, logistics and participant care.

For outstanding candidates we offer placements in every format: on-site, remote and hybrid, as well as research commissions, sponsorship of engineering and master's theses, doctoral work and joint research with universities and student research groups.

Write to foundation@aimindllc.com with a short note on your interests and availability.