Intellectual property - frequently asked questions

Definition of intellectual property - 'Someone's idea, invention, creation, etc. that can be protected by law from being copied by someone else' (Source - Cambridge Dictionary)

The main types of intellectual property rights are patents, trademarks, designs & copyright.

Find out more basic information about intellectual property @  World Intellectual Property Organisation & Intellectual property & your work @ GOV.UK

Please contact BusinessInfo@aberdeencity.gov.uk for assistance if you have any queries about protecting your intellectual property.

Definition of a patent  - 'An exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem. To get a patent, technical information about the invention must be disclosed to the public in a patent application' - (Source - World Intellectual Property Organisation)

Find out further basic information on patents @ British Library What is a patent?

Guidance on patent search resources & sources of assistance for checking whether or not someone has already invented your idea is available from the UK Intellectual Property Office.

Access to free information on patenting & assistance in carrying out prior art patent literature searches is available from Aberdeen City Libraries. Aberdeen Central Library is a Patlib Centre – a member of the Patlib UK network, supported by the UK Intellectual Property Office in providing local access to intellectual property information & assistance. Please email BusinessInfo@aberdeencity.gov.uk for assistance.

Definition of a trademark - ‘A name or symbol on a product that shows it was made by a particular company and that it cannot be used by other companies without permission' (Source - Cambridge Dictionary)

Find further basic information on trademarks @ CITMA (Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys)

Access information about the rights available to you if you don't register your trademark in the United Kingdom.

Trademark registration is a territorial right i.e. registering your business name/logo as a UK trademark will protect your mark only in England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.

Various routes are open to you for registering your trademark depending on your intended markets for your product/service. Free IPO guidance  is available in the GOV.UK portal.

Register in UK? 

Protect your trademark abroad?

Access to free information on trademarking is available from Aberdeen Patlib @ Aberdeen City Libraries. Please contact us for assistance on email BusinessInfo@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Any trademark clearance search you carry out should be for existing same or similar trademarks, covering identical or similar goods or services to your proposed mark.

Freely available web based trademark search sources include -

UK Intellectual Property Office - Search for a trademark

EUIPO eSearch plus - Search for EU trademarks registered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)  

WIPO Global Brand Database - Search for trademarks registered under the Madrid International trademark system

Access to free assistance in trademark clearance searching is available from Aberdeen Patlib @ Aberdeen City Libraries. Please contact us for assistance on email BusinessInfo@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Revealing details of your invention before making an application for a patent is considered a public disclosure & may prevent you from obtaining a valid patent.

If you do need to share information about your invention, you should use a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) - also known as confidentiality agreement.

Further information on NDAs & sample non-disclosure agreement templates is available in the GOV.UK portal.

Source free guidance & information from the Intellectual Property Office.

on patents step by step in the UK?

on protecting your patent abroad?

Access to free information on patenting is available from Aberdeen Patlib @ Aberdeen City Libraries. Please contact us for assistance on email BusinessInfo@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Definition of an industrial design - ‘Industrial designs are compositions of lines or colours or any three-dimensional forms which give a special appearance to a product or handicraft. They protect the ornamental or aesthetic aspect of a useful article, which usually appeals to the sense of sight or touch and can be reproduced in significant quantities’ (Source – World Intellectual Property Organisation)

Definition of design protection - 'Exclusive right to use a design, which includes making, offering, putting on the market, importing, exporting, or using the product in which your design is incorporated or to which it is applied. If you give your authorisation, third parties can use your design in their products; (Source - European Union)

Both unregistered & registered rights are available for the protection of designs.

Source Intellectual Property Office guidance & information on unregistered design rights.

If you don't register your design in the UK?

If you don't register your design in Europe?

Source information from the Intellectual Property Office on how to -

Register your design in the UK?

Protect your design abroad?

Access to free help & information on protecting your designs is available from Aberdeen Patlib @ Aberdeen City Libraries. Please contact us for assistance on email BusinessInfo@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Definition of copyright - 'Copyright is a legal right, giving the owner control over their work and how it is used. It gives creators protection against use of their work without permission. Owners of copyright can use, sell or license a work to a third party. Copyright normally protects the work created by, or 'originated' with, the author. There must have been some skill, labour or judgment in the creation of the work and it must be original' (Source - British Library)

Find out further information how copyright protects your work in the GOV.UK portal.

Access to free information & help on protecting the copyrights of your works is available from Aberdeen Patlib @ Aberdeen City Libraries. Please contact us for assistance on email BusinessInfo@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

BBC Copyright Aware is a free web based resource in which you can find out about yours & others’ rights in copyright & where to find out more.

Copyright User is an online resource aimed at making UK Copyright law accessible to creators, media professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and members of the public.

For access to further information & free assistance in any intellectual property related query, please contact Aberdeen Patlib Centre @ Aberdeen City Libraries on email BusinessInfo@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Book a free Virtual Intellectual Property advice consultation with an IP attorney online or telephone 01224 662500. Advice sessions take place monthly.

Free initial professional intellectual property advice consultations can also generally be obtained on request from members of CIPA (Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys).

Free professional advice sessions on trade marks & designs may be obtainable on request from members of CITMA (Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys).

Search for a CIPA registered attorney in your locality. 

Find a CITMA registered trade mark attorney.

The UK Intellectual Property Office has created a suite of online training tools to help businesses, business advisors, students and lecturers better understand their intellectual property rights.