Not very clear, but this is ice forming on the Lagan at Albert Bridge, Belfast

Venue: Conor Lecture Theatre, University of Ulster , York Street, Belfast Date: 16th June: Time 8.30am - 1.30pm

Venue: Lecture Theatre MF231, University of Ulster, Magee Campus, Derry Date: 17th June: Time 8.30am - 1.30pm

Most businesses generate and own intellectual property. In the development stage of any product it is important to ensure that you do not infringe any third party copyright and your intellectual property is fully protected. Creative individuals and businesses should, therefore, be protecting their designs, brands, logos, software and content creations.

At these free of charge seminars you will hear from experts specialising in IP protection in the creative and digital industry sectors. You will find out how your mental and creative outputs are tangible commodities that you can licence, sell, or trade and how to retain your rights. You will also hear real life stories of those who are working in the industry and developing products and applications. There will be the opportunity for some short 1 to 1's with the speakers during and after lunch. These include:

Malcolm Barclay is a pioneer in the fast growing 'App Economy' and has created Tube Deluxe, which helps Londoners find their way across the capital's underground system. He built this paid application after starting with a free app, Tube Status, which has been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Right now, he's getting around 11,000 downloads a month for Tube Deluxe, earning him about £4,000. Malcolm is a freelance software developer who usually works for major corporations but has taken a couple of months out to see if he can make it as an iphone app developer. He's put many hours into building his application in the kitchen of his London flat, which has become a temporary development studio.

Andrew Ferris, founder of Smalltown America, an independent record label based in Derry and London. Their aim is to cultivate a self-sustainable business model through which artists can release the best records they can possibly produce. Andrew recently secured a five album deal with Atlantic Records for Derry band Fighting with Wire.

Other speakers are Marice Cumber - Director and Founder of Own-IT, Matthew Forde - Media and IP lawyer, Forde Campbell LLP, Davy Sims - former BBC producer and Stuart Worthington (Derry only) - Leading Authority on Music Management. You will also hear how Invest Northern Ireland can help you in this area.

This event is being held in conjunction with the University of Ulster.

Register online at http://www.investni.com/registration or phone Morrow Communications at 028 9039 3837

Years ago in his book Holidays in Hell, PJ O'Rourke described Belfast (with his tongue firmly in his cheek) as Rio of the North, because you can see the hills from the city centre. A few years later the NITourist Board had the words (not tongue in cheek) on some of their prommotional literature. All of these buildings have gone up since then, but you can still see the hills.

Invest Northern Ireland have just issued this invitation. Places are limited and this is a really interesting and valuable event.

I shall be your humble host at both events. Be there or be uninformed ...

Venue: Conor Lecture Theatre, University of Ulster , York Street, Belfast Date: 16th June: Time 8.30am – 1.30pm

Venue: Lecture Theatre MF231, University of Ulster, Magee Campus, Derry Date: 17th June: Time 8.30am – 1.30pm

Most businesses generate and own intellectual property. In the development stage of any product it is important to ensure that you do not infringe any third party copyright and your intellectual property is fully protected. Creative individuals and businesses should, therefore, be protecting their designs, brands, logos, software and content creations.

At these free of charge seminars you will hear from experts specialising in IP protection in the creative and digital industry sectors. You will find out how your mental and creative outputs are tangible commodities that you can licence, sell, or trade and how to retain your rights. You will also hear real life stories of those who are working in the industry and developing products and applications. There will be the opportunity for some short 1 to 1’s with the speakers during and after lunch. These include:

Malcolm Barclay is a pioneer in the fast growing ‘App Economy’ and has created Tube Deluxe, which helps Londoners find their way across the capital’s underground system. He built this paid application after starting with a free app, Tube Status, which has been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Right now, he’s getting around 11,000 downloads a month for Tube Deluxe, earning him about £4,000. Malcolm is a freelance software developer who usually works for major corporations but has taken a couple of months out to see if he can make it as an iphone app developer. He’s put many hours into building his application in the kitchen of his London flat, which has become a temporary development studio.

Andrew Ferris, founder of Smalltown America, an independent record label based in Derry and London. Their aim is to cultivate a self-sustainable business model through which artists can release the best records they can possibly produce. Andrew recently secured a five album deal with Atlantic Records for Derry band Fighting with Wire.

Other speakers are Marice Cumber – Director and Founder of Own-IT, Matthew Forde – Media and IP lawyer, Forde Campbell LLP, Davy Sims - former BBC producer and Stuart Worthington (Derry only) – Leading Authority on Music Management. You will also hear how Invest Northern Ireland can help you in this area.

This event is being held in conjunction with the University of Ulster. Register online at http://www.investni.com/registration or phone Morrow Communications at 028 9039 3837

It has been there for a few years but it is still a classic - we all know who did it and why (the graffito, that is, not the arson).

An all too fleeting visit to “Unconvention Belfast” and http://twitter.com/unconvention yesterday.  Was hoping to stay longer, but a minor domestic crisis drew me home earlier than I would have liked.  The main reason I was there was to do a workshop on Podcasting.  I was unexpectedly (and gratefully) joined by Stephen O’Regan of balconytv.com.  Stephen does things differently from me – first balconytv is video and I don’t really do video, the second is that he uses a different podcasting system. So he was able to bring a different perspective.  But thankfully we agreed tended to agree especially taking a professional attitude to the production of podcasts. Unconvention (read all about it) is a truly excellent event which runs on adrenaline and volunteerism.  It is a real public service which endeavours to bring professionalism to the music industry of Northern Ireland. It is time for the rest of Northern Ireland’s business community and media to realise that individuals and small businesses that support and arrange events like Unconvention are as much part of the economic revival of our city and all of Northern Ireland as is any other industry.  The music, entertainment, creative industry have an enormous economic benefit which can been seen on the Profit and Loss account.  But it has a more subtle impact on our ecomony by raising expectations and morale.  And as any business person will tell you morale has a direct impact on the bottom line. So where were you BBC, UTV, Belfast Telegraph and others?  Yes our desperate "traditional" media – desperate for stories and for younger audiences. You are required by your audiences (and in some cases by Charter and law) to provide a fair and balanced coverage including Economy.  This is not a “good news story” with everybody smiling and saying “Awww, shucks.” at the end.  This is a real business story even if it is by its own title and admission “Unconventional.” This is not kids messing about in front of the mirror playing tennis rackets; this is business.  Next time send someone.  No, send two – one to cover the entertainment and send your Business Cor.  also.