- Stops people from copying you
- Barrier to competitors
- Freedom of action
Trademarks = words/ logos
Designs = distinctive looks and designs
Copyright
Patents
Trademark
- Name to promote the business
There are lots of design help companies who will help you if you think your designs/ work has been stolen.
UK design registration = £50
EU registration 350+ euro
- Design practicalities
Make sure to retain evidence of originals and the creative process
Copyright
- Don't need to apply for it
- It is the execution of an idea - the finished product
- The image is your copyright
- They cannot buy your painting and do whatever they want with it - it is still your image
You can assign the copyright to someone else
If they don't specifically ask you to assign the copyright over it is still yours no matter if they paid or not.
ie. a website design is done for a client and paid for but they forgot to ask you to assign copyright across
Derivative works
- Borrow small parts of other works to create something ie. collage
- Painting from a photograph - can't copy straight from one photograph
Copyright lasts 70 years after death for literary, musical, artistic and dramatic works
Publishers rights (typographical layout etc.) lasts 25 years
Non-disclosure agreement doc.
- Keeping info confidential
- Can be important if you want to patent in the future or instead of the patent.
- Patent lasts 20 years - then it's open to everyone
- By keeping it a secret and confidential you don't have to get a patent and open it to the public domain in 20 years
- Designers will often have to sign a non-disclosure contract whilst creating the design so it is kept secret until published.
GOV.UK = search for a trademark
- Gives a list of similar, current trademarks
