Intellectual Property
Intellectual property, known as ‘IP’, is a term for a collection of rights which attach to products, ideas and information. Most organisations will own some intellectual property without realising it. It can be in their company name, logo or in things they are designing, inventing and manufacturing even in the most simple things like a design on a carrier bag. Essentially, anything that you or your business produces that is new or novel, could be categorised as IP.
IP is one of the most important assets a business can possess. Rights arising out of copyright, trade marks, patents and design rights can add value to any businesses. It is something that investors and purchasers will be interested in.
A trade mark is a badge of origin and identifies, usually by name or logo, a product, service or brand. Registering a trade mark is an effective means by which a business can protect itself from competitors copying the image or name which a business has built up for itself. The owner of a registered trade mark usually has exclusive rights to use it. Domain names can usually be registered as a trade mark but can be separately protected by registration on registers such as those held by ‘Nominet UK’.
Some IP protection arises automatically without the need for any registration. Unregistered design rights can subsist in new and original designs and will apply to the whole or part of any shape or configuration of an article. Copyright which often overlaps with trade marks, design rights and registered designs gives an additional cause of action against infringement.
Spratt Endicott has a specialist IP team who can assist in any IP matters affecting your business.
Please contact Estelle Dimelor, Head of Dispute Resolution on 01295 204 106 for further details.
