Type of IPR | Subject Matter | Length of Protection | UK Legislation | |
Registered
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Patents
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Products and processes which are novel, involve a non-obvious inventive step and are capable of industrial application. There are a number of excluded classes such as mathematical algorithms, mathematical theories and the like.
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20 years from date of filing.
|
The Patents Act 1977
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Registered Trade Marks
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Any sign capable of graphic representation that allows the customer to recognise the goods and services of one undertaking from those of another. A sign can include, for example, words, logos, colours, slogans, pictures, three-dimensional shapes, sounds, gestures or a combination of these.
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Renewable every 10 years on payment of renewal fees, with no maximum time limit.
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Trade Marks Act 1994.
| |
Registered Designs
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An internal or external aspect of design which is "new" and has "individual character" or "eye appeal". It is a right for the appearance of the whole or a part of a product resulting from the features of, in particular, the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture or materials of the product or its ornamentation.
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Renewable every 5 years up to a maximum of 25 years
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Registered Designs Act 1949, as amended by The Registered Designs Regulations 2001.
| |
Unregistered
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Copyright
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Original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, sound recordings, films, broadcasts, cable programmes and typographical arrangements. Copyright also protects computer programs and computer source code.
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General rule is the life of the author plus 70 years.
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Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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Unregistered Design Rights
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Any original aspect of shape or configuration may be whole or part of an article whether it is the interior or exterior.
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15 years from creation or 10 years from first marketing.
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Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
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