What is Intellectual Property ?

Intellectual Property(IP) covers patent, utility model, trademark, design, copyright, trade secret and know-how.

Protection is automatic for copyright and it is unnecessary that formal application for protection be made. However, formal applications must be made to register patent, utility model, trade mark, design.

Subjects protected by Patent Law, Utility Model Law, Design Law and Trademark Law are inventions, devices, designs and trademarks respectively. Each law defines the subject to be protected as follows:

• Invention: Highly advanced creation of technical ideas by which a law of nature is utilized.

• Device: Creation of technical ideas by which a law of nature is utilized.

• Design: Shape, pattern or color or a combination thereof in an article which produces an aesthetic impression on the sense of sight.

• Trademark: Characters, figures or signs or any combination thereof or any combination thereof and colors
  • (i) which are used on goods by a person who produces, processes, certifies or assigns such goods in the course of trade;
  • (ii) which are used on services by a person who provides or certifies such services in the course of trade (other than as in (i) above)

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