How Uk Intellectual Property Rights Can Protect Your Business

Although having bright ideas to change the way we do things is an old concept, protecting these ideas is relatively new. The phrase 'intellectual property' was not created until the 19th century, the idea of legal copyright however dates back to 1710 (the Statute of Anne) and the idea of patenting dates back to 1623.

The concept of intellectual property law is to enable an individual to create something and reap the benefits from this creation, this therefore encourages others to develop new ideas. Intellectual property conceptually can include so many things ranging from art work, designs, literature, phrases, software, hardware, photographs, sound combinations and visual recordings - called "creations of the mind".

According to one economic study, intangible assets account for around two thirds of the value of big companies in the Western economies, underlining the importance of protecting those assets against being copied, stolen or lost. The importance of protecting individual ideas was first acknowledged in 1967 when the World Intellectual Property Organisation was created as an agency between nations.

Only "non-rival" goods attract intellectual property rights - that is, something which many people can access at the same time such a literature and music. In contrast, "rival goods" can only be used by one person at a time - think of shirt, for example.

There are numerous ways in which intellectual property can be legally protected, these include copyright, trade marking and patenting. But for anyone developing new ideas or products, it is vital to consider from the outset how you can protect your work. Even those who you work with on a project could potentially copy your developments, and so a first stage consideration should be the establishment of non-disclosure agreements and confidentiality agreements.

Any approach towards protecting your UK Intellectual Property Rights will inevitably require the services of an appropriately experienced legal advisor. Only by employing a suitably qualified UK IP lawyer will it be possible to obtain effective protection under the law, taking account of the latest twists and turns in the world of intellectual property case law. Whilst we live in a world of instant communication, ideas can be passed around quicker than we can ever imagine, because of this it has become more crucial to take early steps to protect these ideas.