What is Intellectual Property?

Protection, strength & Strategy…

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Intellectual property (“IP”) is a collective term that describes a range of rights in intangible assets, including:

  • Copyright: protects a wide range of creative works, for example photographs, words, music, art, logos and software, from being copied.
  • Designs: protects the shape and appearance of goods such as bags, bottles and tablets, or in the surface design of materials, such as tartan and tile patterns.
  • Trademarks: protects company names, logos, slogans and packaging. A trademark allows customers to identify a trusted manufacturer of a product.
  • Patents: protects innovation, which was previously unknown. For example, Dyson’s bagless vacuum cleaner and Amazon’s Kindle.
  • Trade Secrets: protects information of value that is a business secret and must remain confidential.

What is intellectual property in your business?

Your company name, brand and logo, together with the products, designs and inventions your business has created is all intellectual property and carries a high proportion of your business’ value.  The only way to realise this value is to take action to protect these intangible assets immediately.

Commissioning Intellectual Property

If you do not take the right actions in relation to your ideas you could find that they become a third party’s intellectual property. It’s important to get professional IP help when commissioning works, otherwise:

  • you may pay for the work but not actually own the rights you need in it.
  • your logo would belong to the designer who created it.
  • your website would not be yours to do with as you like.
  • your idea for business software could become the IP of those who develop it.

For more information on how we can help protect your ideas when engaging others to create and develop IP for your business, see our Consultancy and Confidentiality services or contact us.

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How can we help you with your Intellectual Property?

It is important to seek professional advice about what is intellectual property and how it can be legally protected before making it public or launching it on the market. IP law is complex, and the business, financial and legal issues around it are difficult to navigate. By consulting an IP lawyer at an early stage you are much better placed to make effective choices and reduce the likelihood of costly mistakes later on.

We are well placed to help you take control of your intellectual property so your business can flourish from a secure foundation. Do get in touch for a no obligation confidential discussion and we will tell you how we can help.

Arrange a meeting

To speak with one of our experts about what is intellectual property and how it can be protected, contact us by calling 0131 478 4724 or complete our Online Enquiry to request a call back.

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