Rights related to copyright include those of performing artists in their performances, producers of phonograms in their recordings, and broadcasters in their radio and television programs.
Copyright, patents, designs and trademarks are all types of IP protection. You get some types of protection automatically, others you have to apply for.
Intellectual Property is something unique that you physically create. An idea alone is not Intellectual Property. For example, an idea for a book doesn’t count, but the words you’ve written do.
The type of protection you can get depends on what you’ve created. You get some types of protection automatically, others you have to apply for.
Automatic protection:
Protection you have to apply for:
Keep these types of IP secret until they’re registered. If you need to discuss your idea with someone, use a non-disclosure agreement.
More than one type of protection could be linked to a single product, eg you could:
Intellectual Property rights are like any other property right. They allow creators, or owners, of patents, trademarks or copyrighted works to benefit from their own work or investment in a creation.
These rights are outlined in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides for the right to benefit from the protection of moral and material interests resulting from authorship of scientific, literary or artistic productions.
The importance of intellectual property was first recognized in the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1883) and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886). Both treaties are administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Firstly, the progress and wellbeing of humanity rest on its capacity to create and invent new works in the areas of technology and culture. Secondly, the legal protection of new creations encourages the commitment of additional resources for further innovation. Thirdly, the promotion and protection of IP spurs economic growth, creates new jobs and industries, and enhances the quality and enjoyment of life.
An efficient and equitable IP system can help all countries to realise Intellectual Property’s potential as a catalyst for economic development and social and cultural wellbeing. The IP system helps strike a balance between the interests of innovators and the public interest, providing an environment in which creativity and invention can flourish, for the benefit of all.
Intellectual Property rights reward creativity and human endeavour, which fuel the progress of humankind. Some examples: The multi-billion dollar film, recording, publishing and software industries – which bring pleasure to millions of people worldwide – would not exist without copyright protection. Without the rewards provided by the patent system, researchers and inventors would have little incentive to continue producing better and more efficient products for consumers. Consumers would have no means to confidently buy products or services without reliable, international trademark protection and enforcement mechanisms to discourage counterfeiting and piracy.