[Day 1] 4. Understanding Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

What is Patent?

• A patent protects any new innovation or invention (typically hardware or technical process) that cannot be produced in any other format without the inventor's permission.
• To obtain a patent, you must:
  • Prove that the invention is original and not previously created by anyone else.
  • Submit detailed documentation, including the process, methodology, and design of the invention.
• Validity: A patent is valid for 20 years, after which the invention becomes accessible to the public and can be freely used.

What is Copyright?

• Copyright protects creative works such as images, videos, music, literature, and software.
• It prevents others from reproducing or using the work without the owner's consent.
• In case of unauthorised usage, the owner can issue a copyright violation notice.

What is IPR (Intellectual Property Rights)?

• Definition: IPR refers to the legal rights granted to individuals or entities over their creations of the mind, such as inventions, artistic works, designs, and symbols.
• Purpose: Protects creators' intellectual efforts and ensures they benefit financially and reputationally from their innovations.

Categories of IPR Include:

1. Patents: For technical inventions.
2. Copyrights: For creative and artistic works.
3. Trademarks: For branding and logos.
4. Design Rights: For the aesthetic appearance of products.
5. Trade Secrets: For confidential business information.

What is Trademark?

• A trademark is a distinctive symbol, brand name, logo, or combination thereof that identifies and differentiates the goods or services of one entity from others.
• Purpose: Protects the reputation and recognition of a brand and prevents others from using it without permission.