IP essentials

IP essentials

The IP essentials subtopic provides a basic overview of IP law and introduces the four main IP rights: patents, trade marks, designs and copyright. It is aimed at commercial lawyers not specialised in IP.

What is intellectual property?

The World Intellectual Property Office defines IP as 'creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce'. Broadly, the aim of IP law is to cultivate an environment in which creativity and invention can flourish. Protection of IP rights means that those who invest time and resource in creating and developing IP can reap benefit from their investment. By registering (where necessary), maintaining and enforcing IP rights, a rights holder can prevent people stealing or copying valuable assets such as: brand names and logos; inventions; design and look of products; written content; photographs and artwork. In the UK, IP rights are registered with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) though there are other entities which register rights at an international level.

The four most common IP rights are:

•
patents
•
trade marks
•
designs
•
copyright and associated rights

Other

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