- 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.

https://www.gov.uk/search-for-trademark

GOV.UK = search for a trademark

- Gives a list of similar, current trademarks