What you can protect
Use this reference table to find out what can be protected, how it can be protected and what it means to you.
|
What is 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. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
Circuit layouts |
Circuit layout rights automatically protect original layout designs for integrated circuits and computer chips. |
Last Updated: 05/12/2012
