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Intellectual property
refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works,
and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce.
Intellectual property is
divided into two categories: Industrial property, which includes
inventions (patents), trademarks, industrial designs, and geographic
indications of source; and Copyright, which includes literary and
artistic works such as novels, poems and plays, films, musical works,
artistic works such as drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures,
and architectural designs. Rights related to copyright include those of
performing artists in their performances, producers of phonograms in
their recordings, and those of broadcasters in their radio and television
programs.
TRADE MARK
A trademark is a
distinctive sign which identifies certain goods or services as those
produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise. Its origin dates
back to ancient times, when craftsmen reproduced their signatures, or
"marks" on their artistic or utilitarian products. Over the years these
marks evolved into today's system of trademark registration and
protection. The system helps consumers identify and purchase a product or
service because its nature and quality, indicated by its unique
trademark, meets their needs
PATENTS
A patent is an exclusive
right granted for an
invention, which is a product or a process that
provides a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution
to a problem. A patent provides protection for the invention to
the owner of the patent. The protection is granted for a limited
period, generally 20 years.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
An industrial design is
the ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article. The design may
consist of three-dimensional features, such as the shape or surface
of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns,
lines or
color.
Industrial designs are
applied to a wide variety of products of industry and handicraft: from
technical and medical instruments to watches, jewelry, and other luxury
items; from housewares and electrical appliances to vehicles and
architectural structures; from textile designs to leisure goods.
To be protected under
most national laws, an industrial design must appeal to the eye.
This means that an industrial design is primarily of an aesthetic nature,
and does not protect any technical features of the article to which it is
applied
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION
A geographical
indication is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical
origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that place
of origin. Most commonly, a geographical indication consists of the name
of the place of origin of the goods. Agricultural products typically have
qualities that derive from their place of production and are influenced
by specific local factors, such as climate and soil. Whether a sign
functions as a geographical indication is a matter of national law and
consumer perception. Geographical indications may be used for a wide
variety of agricultural products, such as, for example, "Tuscany" for
olive oil produced in a specific area of Italy (protected, for example,
in Italy by Law No. 169 of February 5, 1992), or "Roquefort" for cheese
produced in France (protected, for example, in the European Union under
Regulation (EC) No. 2081/92 and in the United States under US
Certification Registration Mark No. 571.798)
Frequently asked questions on INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
(Trade Marks, Patents and Designs) |
