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IP for designers
As a designer, you are in the business of creating intellectual property (IP). Your IP is a valuable business asset and knowing how to protect it can be central to your business success.
The design industry is broad and covers many categories including:
- Architecture
- Digital Media
- Exhibition Design and Display
- Fashion Design
- Furniture Design
- Graphic Design
- Industrial Design
- Interior Design
- Jewellery Design
- Landscape Design
- Television, Film and Set Design
- Textile Design
Protect your creative ideas and designs
You generate IP when you create something new or original and you can protect your ideas or designs by obtaining an IP right. As a designer you generate IP through the inventions, brands, logos, books, films, new product designs and artistic work that you create.
Australia's IP laws provide a legal framework to protect your creative ideas and designs. Legally enforceable IP rights encourage technological innovation and artistic expression for many industries including the design industry. IP protection is also one of the key building blocks of Australia's economy because it helps foster creativity and reward innovation.
Designers are entitled to profit from their work
Designers should be rewarded for their innovation and creativity. IP is a very valuable asset and an IP right allows your to protect your design from being copied or misused. The legal protection of an IP right provides you with the exclusive permission to use, control and therefore profit from your design work.
Not all designers know how to go about protecting their work. Depending on the type of IP you create, your design may be eligible for protection under copyright, designs and / or trade marks legislation. In Australia, copyright is granted automatically which means that you don't have to apply for it. To be protected under the designs and trade mark legislation you need to apply for a right to be granted.
The designs and trade marks sections on this website will give you further information to help you understand these two different types of IP protection and help you make informed decisions about your IP needs and responsibilities
Last Updated: 12/9/2011
