Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property (IP) can be used to protect and own things that you create e.g. original ideas and information which may be of value and as such may be protected by law. IP rights allow people and companies to manage how their IP is used and who uses it, potentially maximising the benefit/income generated through their use. 

The main types of IP include patents, trade marks, designs and copyrights:

• A Patent protects the technical or functional aspects of products and processes (e.g. how things work, what they do, how they are made, etc).
• A Registered Trade Mark protects a word, image or logo which serves to distinguish the goods or services of one trader from another.
• A Registered Design protects the visual appearance of a product (e.g. colour, shape, materials used, 2D graphical images, etc).
• Copyright is an unregistered right and as such does not require any applications or fees and comes into effect immediately something is written down or otherwise recorded (e.g. artistic/musical works, technical drawings, new editions, etc).

If you want to know more or have a specific query or requirement regarding IP, please contact us on 0131 651 4791 or complete our feedback form.

See also our Useful Links section.