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Fast Facts

  • Ideas and concepts for inventions are not patentable
  • Trade marks must be distinctive for your goods or services
  • Design Right is free protection and relates to the apperance of a product
  • Copyright is automatic so there are no fees to pay or forms to fill in

See Also

What other types of IP are there?
Intellectual Property (IP) is about far more than just Patents. There are four main types of IP rights which you can use to protect your inventions or creations.  You may also choose to protect your IP in other ways, for example, by using a confidentiality agreement.

Patents

Patents protect what makes things work - like what makes a wheel turn or the chemical formula of your favourite fizzy drink.

Trade marks

Trade marks are symbols that distinguish goods and services in the marketplace - like logos and brand names.

Designs

Designs are what something looks like - from the shape of a take-away cup to the body of jet.

Copyright

Copyright is an automatic right which applies when the work is fixed, that is written or recorded in some way.