Patents, Copyrights, Resign Rights and Trademarks

Intellectual Property Rights in Design and Technology

Intellectual property is a category of property that includes intangible assets such as inventions, designs, and brand names.

A patent is a form of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, selling, and importing an invention for a limited period of years.
Inventions usually have to meet several criteria to be granted a patent: they must be new, not obvious, and have some potential usefulness.
Applying for a patent can be a complex process and can potentially require professional assistance.

Copyright law grants creators of original creative works such as literature, art, music, and software exclusive rights to use and reproduce these works.
These rights are automatic in many jurisdictions, meaning the copyright arises at the moment the work is fixed in a tangible medium.
Consequently, aspiring Design and Technologists should remember that using another person’s copyrighted material without permission could potentially get you into legal trouble.

Design right is a regulatory framework which protects the visual appearance or aesthetics of a product, providing exclusive rights to those who create original, unique designs.
Registering a design right can protect your product against replication and ensure it remains exclusively linked to you or your brand.

A trademark represents a brand, encapsulated through a logo, sign, or name that distinguishes a product or service from others in the market.
Regarding branding, a registered trademark can stop others from using the same or a confusingly similar brand name or logo.
Enduring illustrative examples of trademarks include brand names like Apple, Coca-Cola, and Nike.

Protecting your work: Intellectual property rights provide a legal basis to protect your work and prevent others from using it without your consent.
Incentive for Creation: By providing creators with an exclusive right to profit from their invention or work, intellectual property rights foster an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive.
Commercial Value: Intellectual property can hold significant commercial value. An iconic design or a popular brand name can bring substantial economic rewards to its holder.