MCP Solicitors News
Protect your Intellectual Property!
'Intellectual property' (IP) is a creation of the mind that has commercial value. IP is now used as a general term to include copyright, trade marks, designs and patents. IP law can protect your ideas, inventions and designs and can be vital to protect your business from competitors and maintain the reputation of your business.
Trade Marks
Trade marks are the symbols, logos, words or signs that are vital for advertising and marketing your business and that set you apart from your competitors.
While your business may have used the same branding for years, if someone else starts using that brand or something very similar, it can be difficult and costly to claim that other person is infringing your trade mark if that mark has not been registered.
Trade marks can be registered to provide protection in the UK. Alternatively, trade marks can be registered to provide protection in all European Union countries, or worldwide. Registration means that the business name, symbol, sign or whatever is used is a trade mark and that it belongs to your business. This can make defending your trade mark much easier.
Patents
Patents are mainly used to protect inventions, new systems, technical information and manufacture processes. If you apply for and are granted a patent, no other party can use or sell the invention without your agreement. Patent protection lasts for 20 years and protects the invention during that time in the country in which the patent was granted. For overseas protection, you need to apply for a patent in individual countries or through the international patent system.
Beware – if you tell people about your invention by speaking with them or publishing your ideas then you may be prevented from applying for a patent to protect that information. We can assist in preparing confidentiality agreements so that you can discuss your discovery with potential business partners and they will be under an obligation to keep that information confidential.
Designs
Although unregistered designs qualify for some protection, the appearance of a product can also be registered to increase the protection of that design. Registration can protect designs for an initial period of 5 years, but this can be extended for further 5-year periods (up to a maximum of 25 years).
Copyright
Copyright protects the authorship of books, music, broadcasts and other similar work. With few exceptions, such work should not be copied or used without the copyright owner's consent. Copyright does not need to be registered, but depending on the nature of the copyright, different periods of protection apply.
Registration of IP
Registration can help protect your IP and deter other people and businesses from profiting from your ideas. In addition, registered IP can be more easily licensed, bought and sold. Registering IP adds to the value of your business.
For more information contact Tim Stevenson.
