Intellectual Property is the term given for the legal protection of an individual or organisation's knowledge and expertise.
There are several different types of IP:
Copyright - Automatically protects all recorded material. This includes the written word on paper, tape, electronic form, artistic works, broadcasts, dramatic works, music, broadcasts and typographical arrangements, including computer software.
Registered Design - Protects the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture and materials of a product or its ornamentation by registering the design with the Patent Office. This usually applies to aesthetic objects.
Unregistered Design right - In the UK, unregistered design right (UDR) is automatically arising IP right. UDR specifically protects the aspects of shape or configuration (internal or external) of the whole, or part, of a marketable product. The rights afforded by unregistered design right allow the owner to prevent unauthorised dealings of the design throughout the UK which include: selling, importing, exporting or possessing infringing articles. However, these rights do not allow the owner to prevent someone doing any of these actions if they have independently created the same design.
Registered Trade Mark - Registered protection of a logo or product name.
Patents: protects new inventions and covers how things work, what they do, how they do it, what they are made of and how they are made. It gives the owner the right to prevent others from making, using, importing or selling the invention without permission.
For an invention to be protected by a patent is must be:
For a copy of the Trust's Intellectual Property Policy please click here