What you can protect
IP reference table
|
What's protected |
Type of IP right |
What the IP right gives you |
|---|---|---|
|
Inventions |
The owner has the exclusive right to use, sell or license the invention. Patents also allow the owner to stop others from manufacturing, using, copying and/or selling the device or process. |
|
|
Letters, numbers, words, colours, a phrase, sound, smell, logo, shape, picture, aspect of packaging or any combination of these |
A trade mark identifies the particular goods or services of a trader as distinct from those of other traders. The owner has the exclusive right to use, sell or license the trade mark. |
|
|
The way a product looks or a design on a manufactured product |
The visual appearance of a manufactured product is protected, but not the way it works. The owner has the exclusive right to use, sell or license the registered design. |
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|
New plant varieties |
Plant breeder's rights are used to protect new varieties of plants by giving exclusive commercial rights to market a new variety or its reproductive material. |
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|
Art, literature, music, film, broadcasts and computer programs |
The owner's original expression of ideas is protected, though not the ideas themselves. The owner has the exclusive right to use, sell or license the copyright work. |
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|
Trade secrets, confidential information, |
Normally protected via contracts, agreement and management procedures. In general, the owner has the exclusive right to use, sell or license the IP. |
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|
Circuit layouts |
Circuit layout rights automatically protect original layout designs for integrated circuits and computer chips. |
More information
Last Updated: 13/9/2011
