These are the slides from a talk given by Azrights Solicitors in November 2014. They cover the different intellectual property rights relevant to creatives such as developers, designers and engineers.

2. November 2014
Introduction to IP
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3. Intellectual Property
• Widespread lack of understanding
• Today, overview of IP
• What is IP?
• What does IP protect?
• How does IP impact you and your clients?
• Taking responsibility

4. Different Types of IP
• Copyright
• Designs
• Patents
• Trade Marks
• Confidential Information

5. Patents
• What do patents protect?
• What rights do they give you?
• Registration, novelty, inventiveness
• Territorial, international registration
• Secrecy is crucial
• Time limited, potentially costly

6. Confidentiality
• Protects know-how, trade secrets and
other confidential information
• Can be implied
• Better to have a contract

7. Designs
• Graphic designs, logos, shape of products
• Benefits of registration
• Time-sensitive
• Territorial, international registration

8. Trade Marks
• A sign which differentiates products or services
• Names, logos
• Unregistered rights
• Benefits of registration
• Descriptive and distinctive names
• Trade mark classes
• Territorial, international registration

9. Domain Names
• Contractual
• Does not grant trade mark rights
• Cybersquatting
• Ownership of domain names
• Cloud Farm case

10. Copyright
• Creative works, the expression of ideas – examples?
• No registration necessary
• Who owns copyright? Creator, employer
• Proving ownership, the mythical envelope trick
• Must prove copying
• Moral rights

11. Software, Websites and Databases
• Websites and software as a bundle of IP
• “Sui Generis” Database Right – InnoWeb case
• Open Source Software

12. Distinctive and Descriptive Names
• Value of descriptive names online diminishing
• Hotels.com
• Successful brands online
• Trade mark clutter
• Searching and evaluation
• When might a descriptive name be a good strategy?

13. Descriptive names a good strategy?
• A safe place to start
• No one-size-fits-all, Zumba
• How important is a distinctive brand to you
• Barriers to entry
• Your Brand

14. Why Is IP Important to You?
• Most valuable assets, your brand, what you sell
• Licensing based on clear IP ownership and terms
• What if someone steals your work? Unjustified threats
• Legal action not always necessary, Cooks’ Source
• Prevention better than cure – your contract
• Monitoring – Meta-data, DRM, Watermarks, Monitoring

15. Why Is IP Important to Your Clients?
• Infringement and liability
• Examples:
• Antiquesportfolio
• Drug Abuse Resistance Education
• Barbie and Bratz
• Innocent

16. Making the Most of IP
• Protecting your own IP, contracts and registration
• Adding value for your clients
• Enhancing your reputation, taking responsibility
• Respect copyright
• Trade marks should be vetted to avoid wasting resources
• Increase trust, avoid liability and provide a better service

17. Questions

18. Leave your email
Azrights.com
020 7700 1414
info@azrights.com
@Azrights