INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Intellectual Property is when a design has a new idea which they see as being innovative or creative and which they wish to protect.

New products, which are seen as having commercial value, are the intellectual property of the designer.

There are 5 ways of formally protecting an idea or a design.

1) Registering a Trade Mark (Protects Brand Name)

Trade Marks are used protect the name and identity of a product. It prevents anyone else using the same name to sell the product.

You must apply to the UK Intellectual Property office

A Trade Mark is recognised by the symbol ®

2) Copyright (Protects written materials)

Copyright is used to protect printed or published materials, with the copyright belonging to the Author of the original work – although it can belong to the publisher if this has been agreed.

To establish/prove copyright the copyright symbol © should be added to the work . It should then be placed in a sealed envelop and posted back to the author. Providing that the envelope is unopened and has a post mark to confirm the date then copyright can be proved.

23 January 20 06

Mr R Builder

Building Yard

Bobsville

3) Design Right (Protects a 3D design)Design Right is very similar to copyright but applies to 3D products. The designer should first take a photograph of product. They should then sign and date the photograph.

The photograph should then be placed in a sealed envelop and posted back to the themselves. Providing that the envelope is unopened and has a post mark to confirm the date then the Design Right can be proved.

23 January 20 06

Mr P Clifton

Old Forge Cottage

GreendaleT Tubby

23 January

2006

4)Registering a DesignThis is one method of protecting the appearance of a product but on its own is seldom sufficient to protect its function and how it works. This process is administered by the UK Intellectual Property office who require a fee to be annually paid to keep the product registered in the companies name. Once a product has been designed it should be taken to the Registry Office so that they can check the design against those that are already registered to determine if it is the same or similar. If they are satisfied that it is not they will grant registration.

5)A PatentFor a product to receive a patent then it must include a feature that differs for any other product of a similar type. It is also a requirement that the product has not been seen in public before. When the product is guaranteed a Patient it gives the owner a licence to make money from the product with knowledge that it cannot be copied for up to twenty years. If anyone designs a new method of doing an established task then the must Patient the idea otherwise it is at risk of being copied by large commercial companies