IT is a brave company that takes on the US government and wins, so congratulations are in order for Sweden’s Stena Group.

A long-standing patent argument over a special hull form may seem a trivial victory, but the principle at stake here is of great consequence to the whole industry.

The shipping sector’s often unsung heroes of engineering research and development have produced some remarkable results, but the talks taking place within the IMO’s marine environment protection committee this week only go to show that there is an urgent need for them to take these far further.

This is only going to happen if innovators can guarantee that they will be able to capitalise on their advances.

Theft of intellectual property within the shipbuilding and design sector is an intolerable presence that needs to be more widely understood and tackled with force.

In an industry exploding with ideas to meet fuel efficiency and environmental goals, there is an overwhelming need for everyone to take this issue seriously.

The maritime industry must progress on its sustainability and good solutions should be used worldwide, but always and only with the permission of the innovator.

The European Commission-funded LeaderSHIP Platform has been a useful force behind work to develop a stronger understanding of intellectual property rights in shipbuilding and engineering, and the establishment of GuardSHIP earlier this year is a welcome addition to that fight.

Ultimately however, it is only by individuals standing up to challenge each and every grievance that these good intentions will become an accepted part of how we as an industry do business.